Departure of Discovery

Five months ago, I watched Space Shuttle Discovery depart the Space Coast for Washington, D. C.

Fifteen years ago, I watched the same Shuttle depart for Outer Space.  

I will never forget feeling the "rumble in my heart" from that August morning launch. 

Victory!!

Victory~ I survived thrived in my first 5K!!  With a time of 43 minutes and 12 seconds I was 1168th overall and 87th in my age group.  I was thankful and thrilled to cross the finish line!  Especially with my friend Metz coming back to find me after finishing (32.53/38th) and cheering alongside me :-]  

  

I had a blast running with Michelle & Peter who both had an amazing race ~ finishing 39.28/76th and 27.23/17th respectfully. 

Yay, Turtles!!

The "Heinz-Man"

Long drives, choosing good travelin' music, watching airplanes, jumping waves, cheering on the Dawgs, eating great BBQ, keeping Christmas Secrets, playing Chinese Checkers, daring to dream, the comfort of a hug, cracking roasted peanuts and trusting silent prayers... 

I all learned from you. 

Happy 57th Birthday, Daddy :-]

I love you!!

Then there were four...

Wow!  It's already race time?!?!      

My friends Michelle & Peter (aka my "Tuesday night family") decided to join!  

I could not be happier!!

Let the carb loading begin :-]

13 hours for 39 minutes with The POTUS

It's not every day the President of the United States of America stops by to chat.  

Not wanting this historical event to pass us by, my friend Rachel and I made sure to be in line before the sun came up in order to get a ticket.  Five fun hours later (you really get to know people when waiting in line together) a ticket was finally in our hands.  

Saturday night proved difficult to sleep.  Thankfully, my friends Mike & Emily in Hawaii are always up (literally) for a "late-night" chat.  It sure was something getting to see the sun set twice in one day.   

Soon enough Sunday came and it was back to standing in line at 5 am.  Once again the people around us proved to be fun company.  Plus there were clever campaign buttons for sale.  Our friend Metz was volunteering at the event and we sure were happy to see him before going through security!    

Once inside the Clemente Center we ran into the President...of Florida Tech.  

(Two Presidents in one day~ are we lucky or what?!)

Two short hours and countless audio checks later we were finally in the presence of the 

44th President of the United States of America.   

  

Needless to say, Rachel and I were thrilled that all of our waiting, standing, and patience paid off!!  President Obama's campaign speech was effortless, encouraging, entertaining, and energizing.  I cannot wait tell my future social studies students about the day I spent half an hour with the President of the United States. 

               

Starting September

It's been said sung that "September days are the nicest days of the year"... If the next twenty-nine are anything like today then I would have to agree!

Watching the Bulldawgs open the season with a win was wonderful; Watching the game on Jekyll Island with my parents made it marvelous!  Two pounds of Georgia wild caught shrimp sure made a scrumptious celebratory supper at the Rah Bar.  

Being back in Georgia is refreshing~ the paraphernalia is gloriously red & black and lacking grungy, gross gators.  Seeing this Georgia helmet tonight while grocery shopping reminded me of seeing this Bulldawg while school supply shopping my second year at UGA... eight years ago!