Visiting Grandpa, Refi, Sickness, White Russians, Sad Movies, and all that jazz

Whew it has been a while, sorry about that. We've been very busy.
July 4th weekend, I drove up to visit with Grandpa, Aunt Julie, and Uncle John & Lynette.
Grandpa is now on oxygen 24/7. He does have a portable tank for when he has to go to the store, church, or run errands. However, the pulmonary fibrosis is definitely doing its thing. It's not curable.
I hope to go back and see him soon in August sometime.
On the upside, we had a good time visiting, and saw the local fireworks from the safety of the backyard.
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An old highschool friend looked me up on Facebook, and she and her new husband were in town over the July 4th weekend. When I returned from visiting Grandpa, we went out for a nice Indian Food dinner at our fave place - Himalayas. Turns out they have a grocery store in the same shopping plaza, so we checked that out as well. Great place to get some mango!
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Matthew and I refinanced the house (signed all the paperwork on the 6th). We got locked in while the rates were still in the 4%'s, so that is really nice (of course now it's back up in the fives and sixes, blah). Paid off a few bills in the process. Not trying to say the worst is coming, but now we will be in a safer position financially if (God Forbid) Matt or I get laid off at work. One of us should be able to handle the bills alone on our salary if something happens now. I certainly hope that doesn't happen, but it is always smart to be prepared. We had the BEST broker for the situation, I couldn't have been happier with him. If you need a recommendation, let me know and I'll send you his way.
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We even got around to painting the master bathroom finally. Well it's still not 100%, but at least it's not the textured sandy alligator green anymore. We used the same surrey-beige color that is in the hall bath and in the roommates' room. It went on very nice over the textured paint. Now we just need someone to do the trimwork and ceiling. I don't mind doing it myself, it's just that the idiots who lived here before us, use OIL paint for the trim (pale pink, ewww), and then someone painted LATEX on top of it afterwards, and now the paint is peeling. So someone will need to literally STRIP the door/window frames, and totally redo them. I am not in the mood for this right now. I seriously want to pay someone. Also the ceiling paint is cracking and old, it may need some drywall mud to flatten it out. I am also not in the mood for this. Anybody know a cheap but effective painter who can do this for us?
Although, the new color looks VERY nice in spite of the trim/ceiling issues. I am very happy with it!
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As if we weren't busy enough (last week at work was a NIGHTMARE) - the roommate caught a cold, then somehow Matt caught it, and then I caught it. And then my cold turned into a Sinus Infection (I guess, because I thought Sinus infections were NOT contagious?). I spent 2 days "working from home" and sleeping on and off between meetings. Thank Goodness for conference calls, so nobody had to see my horrible self those days.
I finally went to the doctor on the 3rd day (since my snot was turning yellow, that's when you know it's an infection, when it changes color), and he put me on a new antibiotic that I hadn't tried before. It's the first time he's given me one that has a GENERIC - so instead of the brand name drug that cost me $150 even after discounts last time, this one was only $2.90! talk about a good deal! I just hope it works. Last time he gave me a Z-pak, but it didn't cure me, and then I had to go back and pay for the expensive one (Avelox). I sincerely hope this generic thing can kick the sinus infection's *ss, because I really don't like being on an antibiotic if I can help it.
I'm able to be at work now, but I'm still coughing up a storm. I hope it won't go into my chest.
Why do we get colds in the summertime? that just seems odd to me!
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On the upside from being sick, I caught up on all the sad movies I have been wanting to see. I watched "Seven Pounds" and "Nights in Rodanthe." I'm a huge Richard Gere and Diane Lane fan (separately not necessarily together). Although, I'm kinda pissed at Nicholas Sparks about the ending of that movie. Does he HAVE to make it so damned depressing? The Will Smith movie was VERY good though.
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I also realized that somewhere between switching from Comcast to AT&T Uverse, I missed the season finale of Desperate Housewives. I finally watched both Part 1 and 2 of the finale last night. AWESOME cliffhangers. I can't wait for next season.
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Three Sheets Premiere is Monday July 20th on Fine Living Network (if you get it). DVR that puppy!
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Mad Men Premiere is Sunday August 16th on AMC. Cannot wait!!!
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Our dear White Russian friend is celebrating his 30th Birthday this weekend, so Saturday night should be a bit of a party (although I'm still not sure WHERE it is happening). He lives in Vegas now, but came back to ATL for the birthday celebration. He put in his facebook status "The Desert Eagle Has landed" I love that stuff! YAY!
I will attempt to behave myself so I don't get any sicker though. Have been avoiding alcohol.
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Getting hair touched up on Saturday, and oil change. Very exciting stuff right? ha! But honestly after being sick all week, it's NICE to go get pretty again. I seriously have let my roots go too long. The last day I was home sick, after getting the work done, I treated myself to a mani/pedi/brow wax at the nail salon. It is nice to feel normal again.
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Well that's all for now. Hope everyone is having a great July!

I know, I know. I've been BAD. I've been slacking on updating my blog.
Sorry, life has been super hectic lately. Hectic in a good way, but still insanely busy!
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So, May 15th weekend, my Aunt Julie came to visit me. We did the town right! We hit the King Tut exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center, toured Ikea's Store (quick run through), dined at Six Feet Under with a breathtaking view of the city, and then dashed off to a friend's Birthday party.
Saturday, I woke up slightly hungover (thanks to the late night party) but Aunt Julie (who has a liver of steel thanks to her gin and tonic nightly regimen) gave me a quick hangover cure, and off we went to the MA Home Tour. WOW! Although I was a modern home virgin last year (which makes your first year the best ever and none can top it), this year was still amazing! We saw 2 homes designed by my favorite architects - TaC Studios. If I ever get some serious money going on, I'm going to hire THEM to design a new one (or fix my existing house)! On their website click East, Ashley, or Kendall. The Kendall one is their own home, and it's lovely (was featured in Metropolitan Home Magazine this year also!) The reason I love TaC Studios SO much, is that they design AMAZING homes, but they are "realistic" and "livable" not the fluffy millionaire stuff that is so completely out of reach for the middle-income family. Sure I love walking around someone's 5000 sq foot, fine-art decorated, plush, home, but would I ever really enjoy LIVING there? Seriously. Who cleans it? I would go nuts. I like the smaller sized, realistic homes for myself. But for eye-candy, yes yes yes - go on the MA Tour!
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Other architects were Dencity Designs, BLDGS, Tamara Bickley Design (her own white house was on the tour, and hot damn that was a lovely pad. I would never leave it - there's no need, everything is there!), Lightroom Studios, Carlson & Mosley, and Inman Green Condos.
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Saturday Night we stayed home, and grilled some steaks and fish - chillin' on the porch. Sunday I had to drive Auntie Julie to the airport, and then Matt and I checked out the last 2 homes on the tour that we missed the day before. Amazing. I could just look at those homes all day long.
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Then it was back to the grindstone at work. My boss came in for a visit and he kept us very busy. Although, it was stressful too (As we were making a lot of cut-throat decisions and dealing with some idiotic issues), so I coped with 3 happy hours last week. Sheesh. I'm getting a steel liver now ...
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BTW was happy to see my fave Tequila was featured in the June 2009 issue of Metropolitan Home Magazine: Gran Centenario Rosangel Tequila (Reposado) infused with Hibiscus. I sip this during Happy Hour, it's lovely.
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Matt of Zazen Photo, was at "Get Coffee" on Saturday afternoon, for a "Meet the Artist" during the live musical performance of "Ruff Sacks" - a local band. Very fun.
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Sunday we watched the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, and sipped some celebratory Champagne. Then it was off to the mountains to visit the folks. We had a nice dinner with our folks and some of their new neighbors. It was lovely.
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Monday we finally got to take Sport out to the side stream by the lake. He doesn't "swim" in the deep water, but he will run along the rapids, and rocks as long as he has a place to tough the bottom. It was hilarious watching him run around after a ball in the little rapids (rapids to him, but just a current to us). so funny! We wore him out, let me tell you!
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This morning, after catching up on some sleep, I finally bathed that dirty dog. Poor Sport. He wakes up and it's oops - into the tub. At least now he has all day to sleep and relax while we are at work.
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That's all for now, talk to you all later!

Victorious!

Today is just a DAMN good day!
1) Yesterday was my beloved Aunt Julie's Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE JULES! And I get to see her next week!
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2) Zazen Photo's first newsletter went out. If you didn't get the email, click HERE to sign up for the mailing list.
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3) Today's can of Dole Tropical Fruit has more red papaya than anything else, my FAVE!
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4) I'm having a good hair day.
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5) It's Antoinette's Birthday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTOINETTE!!!
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6) Age of Aquarius Party photos - check out Matt on the floor. he was feeling Goo-ood!
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7) Tonight is Wine Club - I'm hosting and we're doing "Organic RED wines with No Sulfites Added" - mmm delish!
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8)And (as my facebook status so aptly puts it) - Abbie is secretly and wickedly pleased about getting to the Arc-Trainer machine at 5:30am BEFORE tread-climber girl tried to hog it. har har har.
Let me explain #8.
This week, I've been to the YMCA every morning without fail. I was a little late on Monday and Tuesday, so Tread-Climber girl was already there hogging her favorite machine BOTH days and for 45mins on Tuesday (beeotch). So, I did weights on Monday, and Bike on Tuesday. BUT TODAY I get there a full 10 mins early. I mean the doors had not even OPENED yet, as I was parking my car. But she was there, in line, at the door, and as I crossed the parking lot to the entrance, they let her in. "NOOOOO!" I thought. "NOOOO she's going to beat me to the machine." I tried to remain calm, and told myself - "so what? let's just get one of the other machines instead. You are stronger than her. Your weakness is not that stupid Tread-Climber thing." and so, I rather apathetically watched her beat me down the stairs, beat me to the Tread-Climber machine (and she fiddled with it for a long time, even crawling on her knees to the front of the machine near the wall. I assumed she was plugging it in?), and I absent-mindedly put my waterbottle into the cup holder on the Arc-Trainer, and then went to put my jacket in the cubby-storage unit. As I walked back to the Arc-Trainer, WHAM I almost ran into her. She had been over near my Arc-Trainer machine but had seen my water bottle (holding my place). I guess the tread-climber wasn't working and she was trying for her 2nd favorite machine now? I wasn't sure, but I just climbed up on there and started doing my 30 mins of cardio. And I thought quietly to myself "30 minutes, and that was the rules. not 45 mins Missie!" There are only 2 Arc Trainer machines at the YMCA with arm-movement. The other 3 have the part where your feet/legs swing but the arm-part is stationary. The machine I was on was the "total body" arc trainer. Hmmm . . . I was on one, and another older lady was on the other one. incidently, there were 2 other available Arc-Trainers (minus the arm movement).
As I started my workout, I couldn't help but notice that Tread-Climber girl was hovering around the area. Even though the Arc-Trainers are in a DIFFERENT ROOM than her Tread-Climber. She wanted my machine BAD. I could taste it.
Why couldn't she use one of the 10 available treadmills, or upright bikes, or encumbent bikes, or stair climber machines, or the other Arc Trainers? There were A LOT of other options. No, she wanted her Tread-climber or the Total Body Arc-Trainer and that was it. Spoiled little thing isn't she? I tried to be gracious, and not smirk to myself, but I was secretly pleased.
Then I watched as she wrote her name on the marker board on the waiting list. Karen. Hmm, so my nemesis has a name now. Damn.
I finished my 30 minutes. The most self-satisfying 30 mins of cardio yet. And then I politely got off the machine, cleaned it, and went home to shower in my new master bathroom.
I AM stronger than she is. I'm versatile. I can work out on ANY cardio machine. I do not restrict myself to just the Tread-Climber or Arc-Trainer. And I'm going to have a more-rounded workout week for it too. har har har.

Photo credit goes to Ebay - Cybex Arc Trainer and Bowflex Treadclimber TC6000* btw, the one at my YMCA is NOT a bowflex, but heck if I can remember what it is.