Patriotic, Part II

 One of my favorite things to do on vacation, if possible, is to go on a run. Especially if its possible to do some sight seeing along the way. Another favorite is to sleep in and eat omelets, but for the sake of balance, we did both.

  It was a little overcast, but still a great run around the mall to see the monuments.

 We took a quick look at the Lincoln Memorial....we did a full visit of the monuments a couple of days later.

 After breakfast and a much needed shower, we headed to the American History Museum.

 Titanic life vest.

 I did not need an exhibit to tell me I wouldn't be good at hand washing clothes.

 This exhibit took one house and followed the different families that have lived there through different eras of American history. I thought it was such a clever idea.

 Learning about the rationing and canning during WWII was so interesting to me. There would be none of this.

How to guides to cooking with rations.

Speaking of conserving, no one said it was easy being green...

 That night we took a trip to Chinatown. 

Wise words that will lead us into Part III....

Patriotic, Part One

 I think it counts if I blog about this trip the month it actually happened, right? Right.

A couple weeks ago we headed up to our nation's capitol to take in the sights, and do a little learning about  history. I'm not sure exactly what made us pick DC, other than I remember enjoying it in 5th grade. Typing it out, doesn't seem like the best way to pick a vacation, but we had a blast.

This greeted us on day one on our walk to the Smithsonian. I loved how you could see the Washington monument from virtually anywhere in the city. Made me want to break out into patriotic song. 

 We left the patriotic music to Lee Greenwood, and headed to the Air and Space Museum.
 
 Proof.

  

  Not pictured: We loved the TVs that had satellite photos of the Olympic Stadium being built over the past ten years, the changing of the seasons, etc. It blows my pea brained mind that people are smart enough to invent such things.

Moving on....

 I didn't pass this test. I'm too tall, old, apparently overweight and married. What was happening on these flights?

 Lucy flew! Back when flying was glamorous, cost a billion dollars, your liquids didn't have to go in 3 oz. containers and you could smoke on the plane. Those were the days.

 After lunch, we headed to the Museum of Natural History. You know I couldn't resist a picture that speaks to my Alabama heart.

 Looking angry.

This wasn't my favorite stop. But, we did do a little Christmas shopping. Hope diamond anyone? Beautiful. Even though the name sounds like something advertised in a Kay jewelers ad.

  Before we headed out, we watched the world's population tick up alarmingly fast. Good news for Brad and Angelina.

That concluded Day One.

 Not pictured: the best crab cake I've ever had. Our table was super close to the people next to us, and I could not bring myself to be that girl, taking pictures of my dinner like I had never eaten before. Which clearly isn't true, because the Smithsonian told me just that morning I was overweight.

Get your flag out. More history to come.

Thankful

I have a few fun posts in the works, but today, and this week, I just feel thankful. Thankful that we serve a God that often spares us from the things we deserve, and blesses us with things we often don't.

 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Ephesians 3:20-21

Happy Thanksgiving from our little family to yours! Hope it's the best one yet. 

It Was the Best of Times...

 We woke up bright and early Saturday morning for the Vulcan Run. I really love this race. I love the course, and it's a great distance. We haven't run in a couple of years due to it falling during our honeymoon in 2010 and in the middle of marathon training in 2011, so I was excited to pick up our packets Friday and get ready to race!

 For reasons I won't go into, I wasn't feeling it Saturday morning. It didn't seem that it was going to be my day...and I was sort of ok with that. You win some, you lose some.

 I forced myself to take it slow out the gate, which is something I struggle with in races, and it seemed to pay off. I ended up feeling great and pulled out a PR. Granted I've only run like 3 10k's, but still....

One of my favorite running quotes:

 "In the first half of the race, don't be an idiot. In the second half, don't be a wimp."

I'm getting a little better at that in my old age. Maybe there is something to this growing up...

 

 Speaking of adulthood, after celebrating with mimosas and omelets, we headed to the Home Depot for mulch. To balance things out, we also bought an 80 quart cooler. You know, for all that water people will be drinking during the football game.
 

 Namath was kind enough to participate as landscaping supervisor. His resume continues to grow. Much like his Freddy Kruger nails. I haven't had the heart to take him anywhere even mildly upsetting since the surgery/drain fiasco, but the time has come to put the big boy pants on.

  And then it was time for some football. Unlike that morning, I wasn't nervous at all. Over confident much? Maybe. By the end of the 4th quarter I had resigned myself to the kitchen to wash dishes and preach to myself  it's just a football game. Those were some CLEAN dishes.

I came back upstairs just in time for the last three minutes. Incredible. I think we scarred Namath for life with all the screaming and jumping.

If I didn't feel before that my college years spent in the Shula era had been redeemed, I certainly do now. Roll. Tide.

 The food and drinks were nearly gone from all the nervous eating at halftime.

 But the corndogs that were left over, tasted even better on Sunday.

Onwards to Texas A&M.

Bulldogs and Ziti and Tigers, Oh My.

 Another week gone, let's look back at the week according to The Grizz, shall we?

 Last Friday we headed to a favorite date night spot to celebrate two years. We took a bottle from our trip to Sonoma. It went well with baked ziti and chicken marsala. But, wine goes well with everything.

 

 No dogs allowed....
 

We left Namath at home to man the newly redesigned bar. It seems to be missing something...I can't quite put my finger on it. Thankfully, it's not missing a bulldog tribute.

We had trick or treaters this year! Which was fun for about 20 minutes for us, 0 minutes for the Grizz. He is not a fan of the doorbell, and was forced to find refuge with his elephant.

Please make the ringing stop....

And just for good measure, a little shot of AJ McCarron's fortune this week. Ready for Saturday night! Corndogs are on the menu, from Costco. So you know there's enough to go around.

Happy Friday!

They Say It's Your Birthday

 This weekend, we celebrated Matt's birthday. How did we celebrate? Glad you asked, since I was sure to take photos.

 Namath was super thoughtful. Or he knew Matt would need a drink when we looked up and saw him WALKING ALONG THE TOP OF THE WALL. I may have had a mild panic attack. Guess that knee is feeling better. I didn't document this, in fear that I would miss the opportunity, if it presented itself, to catch a 55 lb bulldog.
 

 We enjoyed some wings, french fries and cold beer.

 Despite the fall weather, we did some sunbathing. I use the term 'we' loosely. 'We' also did some mopping of these dirty floors that 'we' have slobbered all over. 

 'We' smoked some victory cigars.

 We got some glittery artwork from the nieces.

 We ate cake.

 Decorated with candy corn. Brilliant.

 All in all, we celebrated Matt, and what a joy he is to all of us. 

Wishing you the happiest of days, on your real birthday. So proud of the man you are, and continue to  become.

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Friday Favorites - Geriatric Edition

Happy Friday. I have major blog writing block. I have nothing exciting to share and things are pretty routine right now. Evidenced by the fact that the following have made their way into Friday Favorites. If you have any ideas for wonderfully exciting blog ideas, send them on my way.

• Our cooktop is glass. Ceramic. Whatever the flat tops are made of. Which I've found harder to clean than one would think. Until I found this trick on pinterest. 

Hot water. Baking soda. Fifteen minutes. Coincidentally, the perfect amount of time to drink a glass of wine and watch half a tv show. This is the type of cleaning I can get excited about. Cock a doodle doo.

• But since all cleaning isn't a breeze, I found this little concoction to be the next best thing. Plus it's easy and not chemically. What? That could be a word. My hat's off to anything that cuts through shower scum on the glass doors. I warned you this post was lame.

In non-cleaning and non- lame news, my most favorite, this guy, has a birthday coming up.

If anything like last year, lots of good food and libations will be had. Two years later, and this list continues to grow.