Totally Kicking Balls

TKB! That's my lovely kickball team's name. Unfortunately, we signed up for the winter league, which was maybe not the best time of the year to do so. My friend Hank took on captain of the team and told us he was all for us having "fun"! And y'all know I love some FUN!

I joined my first kickball league back in B'ham, right before I got laid off. And it was one of the best things I ever did in Bham. Mainly because for the first time I actually met new people. For a while there I thought the same people I saw out every weekend at Innisfree where the only young folks left in that town. And secondly, because it was such a fun game! I know there's lots of folks out there who believe there's some skill, which I give there is some. But there's also a lot of luck in the game, which I love. So that way if I totally screw up it's not too bad. My Bham league was so much fun and I was super sad I missed the end of the fun season when I went to Greece (obviously in Greece I didn't miss it too much, haha!)

This season has been a bit more hectic because we had a smaller team and it was hard to find subs. Can you imagine the conversations we've had "well I know it's freezing outside and there's a chance of snow but I promise kicking, running and catching balls is SO much fun, I promise" Obviously we had a hard time convencing. But overall, we've had a great season. Haven't won them all but I've had a fabulously fun time losing and winning! We have a few sore losers on our team but we're working on the positive attitudes! :) Not to mention I've met at least 4, maybe plus, fun new friends in the ATL. And have a slight "kickball crush". (future potential still up for debate)

So if you drive by a park and you see some folks playing kickball...stop and watch and have a good laugh. So far my funniest play of the game was running into a large black man blocking 1st base. I figured I had to do everything I could to get to that base. Obviously I thought I was out since I literally bounced off of him and flat on my back. However, I was shocked to find out I was safe because he "blocked" the base, which is illegal! Woohoo!!! Here's to new adventures, hopefully just as fun in 2011!!!!

Hiatus

So yeah I've been on a bit of a hiatus from blogger world and not sure I'm ready to come back actually. First off my computer died and it took about 2 months to get another one. But finally have my new pretty HP notebook! YAY! However, I've been more wary about the fact that everyone can see so much about my life, not like that many people are stalking me down but still...Also because, I don't have cute kids or a house to write about. Now that my traveling adventures have been cut down to a minimum (stupid new job with not enough vacation time!!!) I feel like my life is a little less exciting. Although with me there's always some excitment, maybe some that's not approriate to share with strangers. haha!

But since I've currently been stuck in my house for 4 days now due to ice in Atlanta. I've been thinking about it more, so we'll see how this goes! But definitely won't be back to my full blogging funness! haha! Sorry y'all!!!

Official Atlantian

So I've felt pretty legit for a while now in my new city of Atlanta but lately I've done some very Atlanta-ish things. First off, long on my list of to-dos...a Braves game!!! I've never been, so I've been trying to get a group together all summer. Things kept getting in the way and finally before the season ends I said: it's this weekend no matter what, even if i have to go alone! haha! Luckily, Haley was in, our friend Ed and Leah (who just moved here from Bham too). It ended up to be an eventful night as Leah got a flat tire pulling into Ed's place, which long story short...caused us to arrive at the 7th inning!!! We had no clue we thought we were just a "little" late. haha! However, it worked out all for the good because we got cheap tickets for the nice, clubhouse type area. Great seats and inside covering for the bit of rain that came. And the game went into 3 extra innings and with the bases loaded a HOMERUN!!!! Braves win!!! It was so exciting!!!

So as you can tell from my excitment! I was happy to mark that off my list!!! That Sunday, it was also cool enough to enjoy a free event! Unplugged in the Park, which is at Piedmont Park, the big park in Midtown ATL. It's great bluesy, folk, acoustic type music. Our friend Hank is our resident concert guru. Very fun and we've already been back again. The picture below is from our 2nd trip to Unplugged.And finally, a FALCONS game!!! This was my first NFL game too! I braved the Marta from my house, figured my route and pushed through the crowds to meet up with Beth at the Georgia Dome. (that in itself huge, exciting task, haha!) Beth is now working for Ford Marketing so she was having to work at the promo type stuff before hand. But when I got there she hooked us up (or rather Ford did, ha!) with suite tickets! It was amazing! We were escorted to our suite, greeted by the bartender, delicious foods, and free goodies (see new hat below, in my dorky solo pic)! We had such a good time watching the game and for me, seeing how the NFL gets down. Definitely could get into this stuff, especially with great tickets!!! haha! (thanks Beth!)

Needless to say I've had some great, fun experiences lately. I'm definitely been blessed with great freinds (some old and new) in this new city. I've been trying to do better about making a list of things I need to experience and hit up the delicious places to eat. If you have any suggestions send them along...I'm only young once folks!

What I've been doing...

Ok so there's been so much going on lately I haven't stopped to blog in a long time! But I think about it a lot...does that count some? haha! I'm gonna just do a quick bit on the events that have happened over the last month (yep, I said month)...
This might not sound like a big event to some but it was for my old roomie Mary Katherine...she finally made it to Atlanta! She hasn't ever been to Atlanta, so this was way overdue! I'm so, so glad she was able to come. I didn't realize just how much I missed her in my day to day life until she arrived and then had to leave so quickly! However, Atlanta beat up on MK Friday night so sadly to say she has a lot more of Atlanta to see on her next visit. haha! We did have one FABULOUS Friday night though...went to supper fun band Yatch Rock that plays oldies and dresses up! Few pics....

MK already showing some sass in the big city...haha!

Some of the gang that made it to the next stop, popping by Stephen's bachelor party!

The weekend after that Haley and I planned a fabulous birthday soiree for her at her new house! Everyone came over before to see her new diggs and have some apps and drinks then headed out to Midtown for a fun night!And as a suprise our dear friend Cathy, who lives in Memphis (who we don't see enough of) showed up for the weekend suprising everyone. (besides me, I kept it a secret all week! ;) )

Also, I've made some great new friends here in Atlanta. My friend Cooper who moved at the same time to Atlanta as me, introduced me to a few folks I've become good friends with. One of our friends Aileen had her b'day party at this place called Ormsby's. It's a game type bar. Upstairs mostly bar and downstairs they have lots of fun games like: bocce ball, skee ball, darts, air hockey, pool, shuffle board and they have board games too. It was really fun to do with a big group on a Thursday night. Haley and I dominated against our friends Hank and Jill (below)in some bocce ball! (i think purely by luck, haha!)

Some of the group on the bocce ball court!

Ok I'll do another post for my busy Labor Day weekend!

Look what I did at work today...

At my job we do all kinds of marketing promotional products you can imagine. And we also do embroidery! We have 2 lovely Chinese ladies in the back with 3 massive embroidery machines. Choi is the lady who loves to give me food all the time. I'm not sure the meaning behind that but it's always pretty good and usually some weird candy or food from a Chinese grocery store. Entertaining to say the least! I take it as a compliment that she feeds me because I think that means she likes me best! haha! Sooo... to what I did today at work....YAY!!!! WAR EAGLE!!! We did these for a customer who wants to suck up to one of his clients! haha! Gotta love it! It makes me want to embroider everything with that logo! Who's pumped about this weekend???Labor Day vacation and the first Auburn game! Weagle, Weagle, War Damn Eagle Kick 'em in the Butt Big Blue!

MONTANA!!

So I took off to the airport (one of my favorite places to go!) and landed in Denver. A strom flew in right after I landed and luckily my sis, BIL and Saywer did too!!! I was sooo excited to see that little guy...even if my sister forgot a 2nd outfit and he smelled a bit like pee!!! LOL! We made it to Bozeman and then drove FOREVER to the middle of nowhere. I realized this when the sun woke me up before 7 am! All I saw around me was green grass and blue sky! I knew we were far from the South but soon realized it was about 30 minutes to a gas station or grocery store. Nice break from the ATL. However, we were very, very close to nature galore...the Madison river and Yellowstone National Park. This picture is the entrance to the "neighborhood" However, if you have antelope and jack rabbits as your neighbors that changes the term.

The first day we went to take some amazing pictures of the Madison river, which made A River Runs Through It look like the slums. haha! We then headed into the little town called Ennis, which was quaint and had the small western town feel. That night Brooke and I went with the guys to watch them flyfishing. So cool and so not anything I could do at all! haha! Definitely a man thing. But gorgeous scenery!

The next day we headed to Yellowstone Park... and YES...that's in Wyoming!!! 2 states kiddos, 2 states!!! Woohoo!!! The list of states visited is getting so long! haha! So, as soon as we drove in, traffic stopped. We then saw the fuss... a group of about 10 moose, hanging out and drinking water. (including 3 baby moose!) You can't see them well in the picture but they're behind Sawyer and I. He was a little confused by the word "moose" and the "moo" cows make I think but hey he's just 22 months old! haha

We also saw a gorgeous waterfall (picture) and saw some cool hot, hot sulfurs. Oh and I my "living on the edge" moment. We came across some buffalo, which all signs tell you to stay away from but I just HAD to get a picture of them. So with my mom screaming from the car, I hoppped out and was soooo close to these amazing creatures(not zooming here)!

Oh and on our way out my mother stops to chat with a park ranger holding an elk antler. He begins to tell us about it and realizes we're from a place elk do not roam. Duh! We tell him we're from Alabama and guess what?? He's from Dothan! What a small world huh? Oh and did I mention he's an Auburn fan AND he was very very cute...what's a girl to do, ask him out? (seriously? Can we get some better timing/place here God? haha!)The next day mom, matthew, brooke and I went horseback riding. It was gorgeous amazing trail through the a canyon...amazing river, meadows and mountains. I had a bit of rough ride b/c I'm short and old but overall I sucked it up and enjoyed the 4 hr ride.

Our nights ended with family game nights with the Eldridges (who's house it was). We've been friends with them since I was 5 and they have 2 sons our ages. It's amazing to me that families can stay friends for so long with so many factors in life that can change. What a true blessing! Overall, great escape from reality! I was sad to leave the AMAZING weather (highs in the low 80s, lows in the 50s) and return to reality. But happy for a break and a new adventure! Hey, God Blessed the USA, I have no doubts after Montana!!!!!! (more pictures coming via facebook!)

Random topics-Bach. chat

I was thinking earlier this week that my blogs seem slow as of lately but I guess it's because of everyone traveling and this dang hot summer heat! So I figured maybe everyone else in Blogger world would be bored and my random blog today won't seem as weird/long! haha! A few things going on and my thoughts:

1) The Bachelorette: Yes, some of you maybe are rolling your eyes right now and in the past maybe I've given you the right to do so. However, this season of the Bachelorette was (to me) undeniably the best season EVER! I didn't really realize this until the very end, when I realized how excited I was for the finale. And I thought to myself, Brandi you've been way too excited this whole season long.
My reasoning for the #1 status... First off, Ali, she's great, cool, cute, got some meat on her bones and seems like the girl next door that I could hang out with. (minus her cheesy solo moments/talk, I mean you know ABC forces them to do this, come on!)Secondly, at first I wasn't a fan of all the guys she picked but then I realized a lot of them were very average and what I (or any girl these days) would get at a bar. Decent looking with good personalities to back them up. Maybe b/c some of them seemed attainable to me I like them more. (minus Roberto....ahhh HOT!) Thirdly, I knew Ty. He dated a family friend of mine a few years ago. He really is a sweet southern guy and I was cheering for him but she was too Cali for him.

Fourthly, drama, drama, drama...even though some of it was cheesy at points...overall it made for great TV and for the most part was really real!!! I mean come on when Frank screwed her in the end...it sucked big time but what a big reality check for life, right single girls? Ugh...boys are so difficult. Fifthly, there were so many many moments this season I died out laughing!!! I mean as painfully horrible as Kasey was....he was hilarious!!! And after a long day I need 2 hrs of cute boys and laughing!!!! hahaha!!! Sixthly (is that a word?) I didn't read Reality Steve (besides a few clues from Beth) I was totally clueless as to who was leaving when!

Lastly, because she chose Roberto!!!!! I know everyone loved Chris but I have no clue why...he had big scary attacking lips when he kissed her and the only thing he had to talk about EVERY FREAKIN' date was his family (love the family but come on...new topic,please!) And the fact that she didn't drag him to the last date and rose ceremony...what a stand up girl. About time someone was real about the fact they liked just ONE of the guys! And of course y'all know I'm partial to foreign looking guys! haha! But how could you deny that smile and how cute he looked in baseball pants!!! I know the reality is they probably won't make it. ( i heard her say she'd do Dancing with the Stars if they asked... a sure sign sadly, they probably won't) But of course I hope they do. And if they don't...it provided this chicka with some laughter, cute boys to gawk at and a new dream to move to Tahiti!!! So to ABC....you got lucky this time with some crazies and a small reality to your so called reality show!!! Thanks!!!

Ok...that was longer than I'd planned...I'll stop for now...maybe tomorrow at work I'll get bored and bore ya'll some more...Oh and I promise Montana pictures and blog soon....do you think I made it to more than just one new state for my list??? Hmmm...wait and see!