Yoga fail. fail. fail.

His name rhymes with Shmamian, and he teaches the Monday night yoga class at my local fitness crossroads.  He has an "om" tat on the top of his foot, maybe both.  He looks like a dialed-down version of Jack Black with curly hair and barely blinking eyes.

He started class by asking us to form a goal we had for this class.  He told the class we were going to get serious, and then he said we should all crack a smile because we're not doing serious yoga.  He paced up and down the rows of pastel mats and downward-facing-doggies, and he repositioned people's stances as he went.  I prayed my leg was 90-degrees.  He breezed past me, then backed up.  He showed me how to get lower by twisting my thigh, and then he said I should take my socks off.  While I (and the rest of the class, now barefoot warriors) pondered his advice, he walked back to the front, looked at me and said, "You'll never do yoga." 

Essscuse me? 

Essssssscuuuse me?  Because I didn't do an instant-toe-touch-sock-throw-off at the sound of his voice?


What do you think I did?  The moment is strange to me it seems almost supernatural.  Did Shmamian really just look at me in the middle of class and say I would never do yoga?  On a normal day, I might have blown him off as a self-important wannabe sensei and gone on with my business, but on this night, I didn't want to.  So I thought carefully while reaching into my Warrior I.  Breathe.  Think.  Breathe.  Think.  Clear my mind.  No.  Think.  Then, I rolled into Plank, rolled up my mat and headed out the door.

You see, my goal for the class was to stretch myself, and I thought I was talking about my hamstrings. I've been trying to be more deliberate about the way I spend my time--planning fun new ways to spend my what-do-I-do-now-that-grad-school-is-almost-over time.  I planned this yoga class, I actually showed up 15-minutes early to be sure I had a good spot, and I was looking forward to some sweaty stretching--some calming, theraputic deep breathing, and some flexibility. 

So, I'll get it, but I won't get it with Shmamian.  Time for Yoga Plan B.  ;) 

Sky Gallery

ITP, yeah you know me

Growing up, my sister and I used to play house and talk about what life would be like when we were old (back when old meant 25).  She would live on a farm and have kids and bake cookies while rocking fabulous hair and telling hilarious jokes, and I would live in the city and have kids and bake chocolate chip cookies with cinnamon and toasted pecans (please) and blend orange fizzies.  Ha.

When I was 21, I took a trip to Chicago to check out a graduate program, and while I was there, I ran into someone in a train station who was applying for Peace Corps.  I don't actually remember much from this encounter, but she said she had to go overseas now ... that grad school could wait.  I was jealous!  :)  I looked at her, starting her post-undergrad life "giving back" with the world at her feet and new expereinces ahead, and I wanted to be in her shoes.  So, I applied for Peace Corps, and her shoes became my shoes, and they led me in a brand new direction.

A few weeks ago, I claimed to have lived in every nook of this sprawling city of Atlanta.  Someone called me out, saying I'd never actually lived in the city at all.  Uh, yes I ...well, no I haven't.  ;P  While simmering on ideas of moving inland, I found this letter from Gram.

It seems like a confirmation to me of a new chapter.  It's time to get packing and get crackin...errr.  Maybe just packing.  ;P

Fizzy.  Urban Orange.  Housewarming.

Aubrey

I represent the deepest felt values of the American people . . .

Essscuse me?  Pardon?  Are those values the ones that say because you're a man with *game*, you have the right to cheat on and disrespect your wife with an intern?  Errr?
You can't have it both ways, Newt.  Either you represent values, or values have nothing to do with how you might do the job.

Interesting how Bill Clinton inherited a deficit and had the budget balanced in 3-years.

November makes me uneasy this year...

Parties Don't Exist.  Paterno.  Missed Kick.

Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza in Woodstock

Thanks to the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce for this photo.  I borrowed it from their website.  ;)

On a random Friday, late-afternoon, I was checking out some more of the local shops with my mom, and we veered into the parking lot of this new pizza joint downtown for an early-dinner-dining-adventure. 

We had no idea what to expect, so it was a happy surprise to find a creative jewel inside.  The decor hearkens to campfires and woodsy Colorado ski lodges, which fits this place's  woodfire specialty very well.  One wall is lined with a bar while the area facing the door houses the open kitchen, so you can see the chefs tossing dough disks as you walk in.  The dishes are tin and campy, the servers wear plaid with their jeans, and a back room with French doors and a huge fireplace screams "pizza party" . . . okay, maybe ... uptown pizza party.

Not only is the decor creative, but the food is worth the long hike way-outta-the-Perimeter.  I had a beet salad with a citrus dressing, pistachios, and some sharp frisee.  It was a great combination of sharp, sweet, and crunch, with a bright orange finish.  Yum!

We shared a sausage pizza with shaved mozerella and homemade sausage on a good, but not legendary, chewy-smoky-sweet woodfired crust.  I've been spoiled for all other crusts by the Alpine Bakery in Alpharetta/Milton.  :P

The coffee is good.  There's a wine list.  They have a couple good beers on draft.  If they had a few leather chairs, I think I might sit in front of that fireplace and stay a while.  It's a fun place to try for you culinary adventurers.

And while you're on this side (outta) town, walk across the street, and check out Blue Frog Imports.  It's a narrow incense and whatnots shop that goes back for yards.  You'll find everything from scarves and imported Indian jewelery to repurposed license plates made into bracelets and handcrafted metal artistic garden decor.  There's a lot to check out in this shop, and when you buy, you support a couple of locals.  Bring a twenty, and prepare to have a good time dropping it. 

Adventures on Atlanta's skirts.  The outer skirts.  A living, breathing, downtown.

Aubrey

Celebrity Crushes (in no particular order)

Mike Rowe
The host of Dirty Jobs and Ford spokesguy
He's hilarious.  Whatta smile!  Whatta voice!

Damon Bennett

A crew chief from Holmes on Holmes

He's so handy.  Whatta man!  Make it right!

Alton Brown

A food man extraordinaire

He's so wacky and creative! Whattan interesting guy.  What a humble heart.

Kenny Chesney

A shrewd businessman and lone rider

Mysterious guy.  I think there's more there than a strong jawline.  Love his voice.

Wasting time.  :)  Men.  Character.

Yum!

Tornado Closet

I guess it's not all bad that I'm stranded in a tornado closet with dog treats, spicy V8, water, Pandora, and 11 Alive.

My Chore List

1.  Email Grandpa.  Do they have tornadoes in South Dakota?  Lucky Duckies.  Ok.  Maybe I would rather have a tornado than a blizzard.

2.  Finish my IRB Training (ethical research) for Grad School.  Yeeha!  I've been waiting for a special time to do that.  :) yep.  A real special time.

3.  Brush up on my Bruce Hornsby and Genesis lyrics.  Nothing like 80s piano ballads when storms are nigh.

4.  Create new seating charts for next week.  I wonder if I could organize the desks in a zig-zag pattern for a change? 

Today would be a really good day for a basement, a movie marathon, or a wrestling competition.

Beneficence. Belmont Principles.  Promulgated.  AaaaaaaHHH..

I Confess

There have been so many times in my life that God has showed me that I have very little to do with how things turn out.  I can iron my favorite blue shirt and show up early to the interview, but the job is in his hands.  I can pre-pay for tickets and mapquest the route, but traffic happens . . . or maybe it doesn't.

So, why is it I try to take credit sometimes when things go soooo right, or try to take all the blame when things go soooo foul?  Either path is one side of the same I-Run-The-Show coin.  Either way, I'm wrong.  The buck doesn't stop here, it stops with Him.

It's running on the heels of midnight this Sunday, and I can't stop thinking about how wrong I've been.

I confess...
God is in charge, and whether he chooses to put his Hands all over my little life situations or let His laws run their course, that's his perogative, and I trust him (or at least I WANT to).  :P

I confess...
I really like *my* plans, and I cling to them like an entitled toddler.  Lord, help me let go.  Help me be obedient even when I don't get it.

I confess...
God made me.  He gets me.  There is nothing I could do that is so wacky that it would shock God.  He is in charge, and I can rest (that's such a good word--REST) and just let his plans unfold instead of trying to steer his ship.

I confess...
That every time God has shown up in a big way, it has been so obvious and more creative and perfect than anything I could manufacture.  I really don't want anything less in my life than his divine, strategic, and gorgeous plan.   So, I'll wait for it... even if I wait forever.

I confess...
I'm really sad thinking about waiting forever.

I want a dog.

Love.  Ouch.  Lord.

Aubrey

Dooo do do doo do do

Papyrus

Pretty cool.  This is the oldest piece of the New Testament that we've found.  It was unearthed in Egypt in 1920.  It's crazy to think this could be John's handwriting.  It's on display in Manchester, England.



Home Again

The Best Pizza Outside the Perimeter in Atlanta

About a year ago, I happened into this place almost by accident.  Between one of Crabapple's iconic grain silos and a fitness center, I saw the words "Alpine Bakery."  The baked goods displayed in this place rival those anywhere:  everything from cannoli to biscotti to prettily ganached cakes.

You can see a glimpse of it here:
http://alpinebakeryandtrattoria.com/bakery/

Picture from Reid Casey, a local realtor.

While I was enraptured, gazing at the pastry cases, I saw a few guys walk in and leave with pizza boxes, so I asked about the pizza and ordered one.  I don't even remember what was on the pizza now, but I remember the crust, OH I remember the crust.  Thin and crispy as your teeth hit the top, chewy as you bite down, hot and slightly sweet, the crust pairs with "just enough" sauce and toppings like artichokes and slices of italian sausage.  Yum.

I went back the other day, and the owners have turned half of their space into a restaurant.  The menu includes an array of traditional Italian favorites and a few restaurant creations.  The average dinner entree price is fifteen dollars.  I ordered a pizza and brought it home with me.  :)

I noticed there's a lovely outdoor seating area, and when I stopped by, it was pretty full of people enjoying a bite of the evening breeze with their pasta.

If you find yourself in Atlanta's northeast suburbs and you like New York-style pizza and pastries, try the Alpine Bakery.  :)

Another review with pics of the restaurant and the pizza:
http://foodwolfblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/alpharetta-alpine-bakery-and-trattoria.html

Another great review:
http://www.chowdownatlanta.com/alpine-bakery-and-pizzeria/
Restraint.  Pizza.  Delicious.
Aubrey

On a Better Bite, Sugo, Iberian Pig, Castellucci Review

http://www.iberianpigatl.com/

http://www.sugorestaurant.com/
I'm not sure how to find words to express how much I love the Castelluccis!  They're an Atlanta-area hospitality group who could open a sardine dessert shop, and I'd try it!  I'm so impressed with everything about their style.

Let's start with Sugo, shall we?  :)  The first time I went, it was my birthday-- a Monday night, incidentally.  The pillowed benches were peppered with business people getting after-work-cocktails.  I was absolutely floored by the unique Greek-Italian flavor combinations!  Little bites of bacon-wrapped dates-- sweet and salty, a giant meatball--fresh and bright.  After sampling a variety of small plates and drinking a few glasses of wine, my friend and I noticed it was near closing time-- which in my experience in food service-- especially on a Monday night, finds servers glancing at their watches.  Not here.  Stephanie Castellucci, who was hanging at the bar, seemed unconcerned about time-- the staff seemed more like family hanging out than a group of harried wait staff ready to clock out.  Before I left, my server brought us dessert and a glass of a light moscato, and I was in Heaven-- I mean it.

The next year, again on my birthday, I decided to try another Castellucci establishment--The Iberian Pig-- in the ultra-hip part of downtown Decatur.  I ordered a cheese plate and a whiskey old fashioned while I waited for my stuck-in-traffic dining buddy.  My server was very knowledgable and friendly.  Again, the food was amazing and creative-- different from anything that you'll find anywhere else.  Again, the service was exceptional-- and I say that as someone who has waited tables for years-- it was exceptional.

"Mr. C." the head of the Castellucci clan and Nancy, his wife, are a class act and such a dynamic duo.  Northeast transplants, we're really lucky to have them and their kids running these beautiful restaurants in the Atlanta area.

If you're looking for a "sure thing" for drinks-after-work, an impressive first date, or a culinary adventure, these restaurants are just a reservation away. 

Love.  Castelluccis.  Spine-Tingling-Greatness
Aubrey

Thai Star Restaurant Review-- Norcross

Friday afternoon, I was on a mission to explore another area Thai restaurant.  I immediately thought of Thai Star as its yellow sign winked at me for a year when I lived near its home on the intersection of Peachtree Industrial and Medlock Bridge in Gwinnett.  Though it's an hour from where I live now, I buckled up and decided to try it.

I cruised through the quirky revolving door and was seated immediately.  I ordered the rat naa, expecting this version as I had too many times from street shops in Sakhon Nakhon ราดหน้า.  Thanks, Wikipedia for the photo.

I asked about som tam, and my server's eyes narrowed, "No, we don't have that."  ส้มตำ

I asked for a Thai iced coffee and never got it.

Meanwhile, the Thai server girls working at the time rolled silverware and chatted about someone's "jai dahm"--black heart . . . or black skin. 

I got my rat naa gai --which was a stir fry with steamed rice on the side in about 2-minutes.  The vegetables were crisp-tender and bright.  The sauce was slightly sweet.  The food was good.  The bill landed on my table after the second bite.

If you have no expectations when it comes to Thai food or service, try this place.   If you want an authentic Thai experience, don't.  In Thailand (and good Thai restaurants),

• the table is set with a quad of condiments which might include:  fish sauce, chilies in vinegar, siracha, sugar, peanuts, dried chili powder, etc.  Not here.
• the place setting includes a fork and a giant spoon.  Not here.
• the shop keepers are accomodating, sometimes to the extreme, and after a few visits, can feel like family.  Not here.

I see many of the reviews for this restaurant are positive, so maybe I'll go back and see if the service is better, but what a disappointing lunch.

Aubrey

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

To a guy who . . .
1.  Manages to be artistic while wearing steel-studded boots.
2.  Answers the phone with a daily "Jimmy John's Flower Shop" or "Jimmy John's Racecar Emporium"
3.  Keeps life balanced with a ready array of spicy candies and jars of red pepper flakes.
4.  Spent a 6-hour drive as the navigator--inventing crazy band names with me.
5.  Is so silly sometimes the glimpses of deep wisdom he dishes are sometimes shocking.
6.  Saved a lady from a giant cheese grater . . . and refuses to take credit or tell me the story (again).
7.  Loves my mom more than he did when he met her.
8.  Mows his lovely cottage-sized yard in 4.5 minutes with a Orange Husqvarna Zero-Turn Lawn Tractor (full speed ahead)
9. Is more "Jimmy Stewart" than Jimmy Stewart.
10.  Has been a really great dad.

Thanks, Pops.  You're one in a billion!  I'm really glad you guys came to town.  :)

Love.  Father's Day.  Daughter.

Aubrey

Chain Link

So, today I've been thinking about unintended consequences.  The sermon this morning was about Noah and his Ark, and honestly, I only half listened.  I was stuck in my mind again---thinking about fear--- and how I've let it make me think I'm chosing the safest, most responsible option, when actually I've been cowering and kowtowing to ugly fear.

What if Noah had chosen the "safest" option?  What if  he had run from the tigers?  What if he had been more responsible and gone to work instead of building a giant hobby ship?

Sometimes, I wonder how my life is different from the girls who seemed to have it all planned out by sophomore year in college.  By graduation, they'd be married.  By the next year, they'd be finished with grad school, and when Timmy started kindergarten, they'd open a consulting firm and buy a motorcycle.  And yeah, it's five years later now, Timmy is in school, and I've seen Susie cruising around town on her motorcycle in her powder pink chaparreras.

What are these Perfect Plan-istas afraid of?  What do they struggle with?  Do people ever look at them like they're aliens?  I have no idea what their kind of life must be like.

It's an interesting place being single approaching thirty.  People aren't sure how to make polite conversation without being able to ask about my strong, strapping husband or my healthy babies.  So, they ask about the gym, the weather, the school assemblies, and the who-I'm-dating-now. 

I have learned so much being on my own for these years.  I've learned about good parenting from some awesome friends.  I've learned about good communicating from some patient roommates.  I've learned about loss-and-letting-go from some sisters who've gone.  I've trudged through the sludge in the bottom of my heart and found some jewels there, too.  I've wandered from God, and I missed Him so much.  It has been fun to have the freedom to explore all of these things on my own calendar.

I think the hardest thing about being where I am, as the one who doesn't fit expectations in our society . . . is that I am the oddball in my family. My parents and my sister walked the Married by Twenty Path.  They really speak the same language.  Maybe someday, I'll learn it.  Until then, there are going to be times I'll be on the outside. 

I just read Genesis Six again.  I wonder if Noah had fun building the Ark?  Cypress wood, pitch, rooms, decks, animals . . .They say he was 500 when he started the project and 600 when he finished.  I wonder if he and his sons sanded the decks together?  I wonder if his wife painted and hung curtains?  :P  I wonder if there were times Noah looked up at the sky and thought, "Pfft.  Water?  From where?  God? Did you change your mind?  God?"   And then, maybe he looked down at his sons and thought, "I trust."

Lord, show me what it means to be obedient.  I've been as obedient as I know to be, but show me more.  Show me what to do with all this alien freedom.  I don't want to waste it.  Show me how to be courageous. 

Love.  Rain.  Ready.

Aubrey

Trust

I was reading the other day about Biblical Jonathan, the warrior prince, son of Saul, brother-of-another-mother to David. There's a part of his story that mentions his armor-carrier. This is a guy I'd never considered before(thanks, Beth Moore).

So, Israel is waging this bloody battle with the Philistines, and without permission from or word to the Commander (dear old Dad), Jonathan goes rogue and says to his servant something like, "Dude, let's climb these deadly cliffs and attack these *^%#<%^s (my Bible says "uncircumcised fellows") "maybe the Lord will help us out."

So, the armor carrier says, "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." I think a better translation of that might be,"HooYAH!":p

There's something about a brother. There's something about a sister. There's something about someone you know will be standing at your back when the blood and bones settle.

It seems like everyone is looking for love. OHkay. I am, too. But maybe we've got it backwards. The excitement of Love is a chemical cocktail that's gone in 18 months. I think the relationships that last are between friends and lovers who face the cliffs back-to-back. "do all that you have in mind. Go ahead, I am with you heart and soul." hooyah:)

Jonathan and Unnamed Armor Guy with God's Hand, killed 20 men, sent the Philistines into panic mode, and saved the Israelites.

Moving and Grooving (and somewhat sappy) V-Day Playlist

Yeah, Baby!  Those of you who have a honey this year, use this playlist at your own risk. 

1.  What's Going On-- Marvin Gaye
2.  Paperweight--Joshua Radin
3.  Let's Get It On--Marvin Gaye
4.  You Do Something to Me-- Frank Sinatra
5.  The Point of it All--Anthony Hamilton
6.  Where you Are--Marc Broussard
7.  Sunshine--Josh Rouse
8.  I'm the Man who Loves you--wilco
9.  You Sexy Thing--Hot Chocolate
10.  Never Knew I Needed--Ne-Yo
11.  Fly Me Away--Annie Little
12.  Two Coins--Dispatch
13.  Stole My Heart-- Marcus Ashley and Annie Little
14.  Here is a Heart--Jenny Owen Youngs
15.  God Gave Me You--Dave Barnes
16.  Feel the Blast--Waterdeep
17.  Groove Me-- King Floyd
18.  You Shook Me All Night Long--ACDC
19.  Let My Love Open the Door--Pete Townshend
20.  Green Eyes--Coldplay

A and I

Today, I read -Bark, George- to two little kindergarten girls near downtown ATL. It made me remember the good ol' librarian days. I always loved kindergarten storytime! :)