November kindness

So I think I've done so many nice things I've forgotten them. I had to go through my month to figure out some. I guess they were so simple that I forgot them. my first one I attempted to bring dinner to a single friend, but she wasn't home. I eventually brought over fresh apple pie, and just sat and talked. Ideally I wanted a meal, mostly because it is nice to come home and have food to quickly heat up. Meh you get what you get.

Then we went to Vegfest, Atlanta's Vegan festival, it was really good actually and I saw some recipes to make some good healthy eats.  I went with my neighbor to get info for my gluten free friend. I came home and made the best cupcakes for her. Unfortunately my acupuncturist stuck me to stop sugar cravings, so anytime I tasted the frosting I'd get queasy. I know they tasted good logically even if my stomach told me otherwise.

Voodoo medicine has been going well except I had a "health" crisis, and had call out of work for a cold/sinus infection/cough/sore throat/running nose mess. Doctor stuck me and up my meds and a day later was fine. Yep it's still working, but she has me rubbing Wheat Germ oil on my scars to help "heal energy holes." It's one thing I do feel is totally voodoo and am not sure that it is really doing anything. I don't know we'll see.

Family Picture Time

The last few years I've been wanting to get my picture professionally taken. Mostly because it's fun, but my mom always had a wall with all of our pictures going through school and major mile stones in our lives. In her room she had all of our family pictures.  She always liked to see how we grew and changed. I always liked that idea and decided I would do it with my family.  Fast forward to me with my family and I haven't had pictures taken since after our first year of marriage (had engagements done to match the wall, longish boring, me obsessive about uniformity story).  I did start to look for a photography when we hit the five year mark, but didn't see anything I liked or wanted to pay for.  My aunt came to visit in March and commented on our "engagement" photo and I just decided enough was enough. I deserved pictures of my family even if there was just two of us and no kids. There seems this unwritten law about people not getting professional photos unless you have kids.




I have a small confession to make: I'm obsessed with photos of people. I look and look at the detail until I've discovered all of the best and worsted parts of the picture.  If you really want to know what I think of the Royal baby christening photos, I could go off, but will leave it at they should not have paid the photography what they did for that official portrait--amateur mistakes where made.  I saw a lot of photographers work and I have to say (don't hate me because I know you have family photos of this within the last five to ten years of this) there is a crap load of families in front of barns and fields of golden wheat.  Bergh! I was so over that. Plus my family is far from the happy children as mom and dad are kissing in the background.  After many such pictures I stumbled upon a photography studio that had a section just for couples that wasn't engagement photos. I also was impressed because they had arty urban photos and generally a really different feel.  I was impressed because the people had such personality and different then just happy perfect family, but attitude and wit.  I really wanted to show off my cool city (I live in a cool part now) and capture that energy. The photographers had personality too which I know would help get Daniel out of his cheesy "I'm here because Annie has this corked brain idea, so yeah" smile.  


Dancing while trespassing.

I know I really wanted a picture of Atlanta in the background. The photographer, Kahran, suggested the West Provisional District in West Midtown.  We some pictures there, but got kicked out because they had a new copyright permission in order shoot there, so we headed out to The Goat Farm. Yep you guessed it a farm except it has turned into an artist district.  Some guy bought the old farm and then sold off the buildings to different artist for studio space.  The Walking Dead was filmed there, the Atlanta Ballet was practicing when we were taking our photos. We even broke in to one warehouse to get some  cool pictures.



Love this angle.

Now over all I am super pleased with my photos, but I have to admit Daniel had too much fun.  He forgot about the camera, so most of our photos you couldn't really see his face.  The photographer kept cracking up at us as we lead them around and Daniel was loosen up.  He even said he would hire them again and do it again.


Yep my Top Model pose.







The way all Gedge's sit, captured for posterity.



Outside an artist's studio

Hip and Cool



I think I look like my sisters in this picture. 

This is my favorite because captures a total Daniel and I conversation.



I'm a voodoo health nut

Sheesh October has been a short long month. It could have been because I had vacation.  It was an easy boring one, but I liked visiting family. Plus I got to see my sister in Reno which I haven't seen in seven years!  I started the extravaganza with my cousin visiting me in Atlanta because he had a conference. We also made it for Atlanta Pride which I thought was fun except all of the marketing vultures that came out to rob the LBGTs blind. We then flew to Salt Lake together which was amazing for me because I got onto his flight and it was the direct flight too. I was glad to get there earlier than expected because I got to see Rinehart and his kids before they went on vacation. We went to a local spook alley. It was fun with all the nieces and nephews. I haven't been to a spook alley in over 10 years. I got to visit with college friends for lunch. One day my in-laws took me to City Creek which I thought was beautiful, but Lenox mall is way more upscale. It was fun to see all of my family in one shot. Thank you Trudy and Dave for moving back to Utah!

On Friday I got up and caught a flight to Reno to visit my oldest sister. I got a great surprise when I saw my niece who had come home from boarding "troubled" school.  It was super nice to see her, but stressful as she was still pushing her parents buttons.  I got bracelets made for me (I was super picky and made them match my outfits, why waste the little jewelry I have and if I get it for free...), rich good food, a craft fair, accessory shopping and a haunted house which was pretty good for how small it was.  My sister does know how to throw a bash even if you visit for 48 hours.

My good deeds lead to my strange title.  One of my friends got hives when she moved to Atlanta, and she has been put on a gluten free diet to see if that helps. I keep coming up with all these recipes and go shopping with her to find the gluten free sign. Seriously this is a major thing as she seems completely blind to it and it could be hugely displayed on the package.  I also started walking with her as that is what she wanted. We go Saturday morning or 5 am on weekdays whatever she needs.

So I've become more conscious of what I'm eating and I had a really bad doctor's visit that left me feeling that the path of health I was taking may not be what I need. I saw my mom's alternative health doctor in Salt Lake and confirmed that maybe I should try some voodoo stuff and see what happens. I was also recommended an acupuncturist. I've been and I have to say after two days I sleep incredibly fabulous and am not sure when the last time was that I dreamed, but I've dreamed two night in a row and can breathe easier. I'm suppose to see how my nutrition is next. Now I'm totally on this alternative health stuff. I'm seeing all kinds of voodoo things.

My other good deed was helping a friend at church who didn't want to be alone. I didn't either, but I also didn't want to go to her house cause it was a long drive for me. I bucked up and went over and had lunch and entertained each other. It didn't seem much but it brighten her and my day. Plus I didn't know her that well and it took me out of my comfort zone.

No pictures this time, but I am totally going to make a diva post soon.

First Failure

For my month of August I only did one nice thing.  I guess I messed up my two nice things, but hey all the way to August before I messed  it up.

I  was driving to church and was getting off the freeway when I saw a couple walking up the ramp. One had a walker and I looked at that and wanted to help. Now in Atlanta you have to be careful who you help and how because you don't want to enable. I was already late for church, but I just couldn't let it go. So I figured how to back track, which is always complicated in Georgia, and met them at the top of the off ramp and asked them where they needed to go.  Funny thing the gentleman with the walker was walking faster than his wife, whose back hurt. They just needed a lift to the store, so they could be in a safe place before they could get the bus and find a place to sleep for the night. The wife was super nice and I enjoyed talking to her. The husband was a little strange since I could barely understand him. I didn't have much cash, but  I gave them a few dollars.  I have never felt so embarrassed to be in my Sunday clothes, but I looked like I had more money than I did. It was a good experience, but sad too.

I might not get anything for September. I keep thinking giving advice to my pregnant friend might count, but I've never had kids. Yes I realize how presumptuous this is, and how out of place it can be, but I have no excuse. Please hate me or tell me to shut it, and I'll stop. I keep saying random factoids; she looks at me and asks how I know that and I tell her where I picked up, so she can decide how trust worthy it is.  She genuinely seems like she enjoys my random factoids. I guess I showed her the auction house and she got a nice dresser for super cheap. We had a good time and our other friend was hollering and clapping when she won so I think that could count. Hopefully I can get a second one for this month!

Blergh

So I have been meaning to write since the last week in July. Totally haven't been motivated

 I really did some special service for my good friend Chante.  It is amazing because one was living an episode of Call the Midwife.  I got to help a lady who got her tubes tied, find food, medication, and get her home. Which is nothing too extraordinary, but I didn't know her and it definitely was a experiment on how the other half lives.  I got to go into her apartment in the ghetto of Atlanta (cops and firemen came while we were there and everything).  Her house had been broken into or at least the window was broken, there were roaches everywhere, and at 10pm her kids were up and screaming in an ill equipped dirty home.  I would have to say it was very different for me. My friend cried when we got in the car because she felt so bad for those little children.  I on the other hand thought I was super blessed (which she did too), and could see a lot of love in that house. The parents had taken steps to stop having children so they could support the ones they had, and the dad had brought treats home because he was worried and thinking about them. The neighbor had shown up at 10:30 pm to see if she was alright and could do anything.  It highlighted how much money and wealth  can separate you from others.  I know my neighbors wouldn't come to check on me.  I know the ward would take a day or two if they even knew I was in the hospital.  We started at 6 and ended up done past midnight.  I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

I then later helped Chante's cousin get her meds.  I met her at the airport. It ended up being super inconvenient because I thought it would be easy.  First I had to arrange Chante's and mine schedule to up to get the meds.  Daniel kept calling me a drug mule, and I laughed.  Funny thing was I forgot my parking pass and then the pill on the way to the airport.  I had to meet up with Daniel to get my pass and he said I was pulling him into the trade. That and what kind of runner was I when I botched the first job. I was able to find her at the airport pretty easy too. I waited with her on her layover and talked to her she was a sweet lady and I was glad to help her out.  My days as a mule will be done because that was super inconvenient.

What the What?

Here is a quick catch up on my New Year's resolutions. While Daniel and I have not walked every day nor every weekend (there has been some serious rain pourage on a some consistent weekends), Daniel has been walking on his own about twice a week and sometime three to four if I'm with him.  He actually wants to do it himself.  So while I thought I had ruined that goal, I would say it has been successful since Daniel is doing it himself and ultimately it is for his health. It does help that we live next to the river so walking is actually enjoyable.

June seems to have flown by and I have two acts of kindness to do, but everyone seems to do acts towards me. I had a captain buy my meals for my entire trip (man did we eat well, Greek food and sushi). My mom let me come  to her house in DC and drag her around the Aerospace museum and look at airplanes. 

The Enola Gay; drop the first Atomic bomb.

My one good deed  was accepting a calling in primary for the CTR4. Okay this really was a saintly act since I've only taught this class three previous times and am sick and tired of it.  There also is the fact that right now in my life I am so not into children. I've become that person who just sees them as sticky, loud, money suckers that ruin you body. It doesn't mean that I don't like individual children because I really do connect with some (and most connect with me whether I like them or not). The only positive thing is that this will be a very good form of birth control (there are 9 in this class and exhaust me beyond belief).

May Day

So I didn't think I would get any good deeds done for May and I was thinking that was mighty fine.  I had the last week off and I wanted to visit family and friends, so off to Utah I went.  This ended up a bit comically because I started at 4 am and I had to miss two flights before I could get to Salt Lake. I got stuck in Houston for roughly six hours, but I got to see two flight attendant buddies.  One I escorted to his plane and talked to him, and the other I helped to get to Las Vegas (she was going to go this really messed up way and her time so wasn't adding up).  It made it nice for me because I was able to talk to someone to Salt Lake and she even said it brighten her day.  I guess the next was that I had the gate agents cracking up. I'm not sure exactly what I was saying, but it made their weekend since they had to work the holiday weekend I count that as my second act.

Now onto the picture fun.  When I go into to town I went over to my friend Jody's house, she got show off her house and I got to see all of my college buddies.


Yep they made the U totally worth it.  Two of them didn't even go to college with me, but hey it was still awesome.
 

Sunday was nice because I got to spend it with my dad because everyone was out of town.  We decided to make our traditional Christmas dinner of Lobster and Steak. Since I canceled Christmas last year. This was quite the treat; that and I can't grill in my apartment.








For Memorial Day, I went with the Gedge family to visit dead people.  This hit my morbid fancy so I went along (I know this is a normal thing to do on Memorial Day, but growing up we always went to movies). 

A Gedge relative with the same birthday as me.

Aunt Alice and I have a common ancestor, so we are cousins.

Cousins playing around



 I got to see my Opa and Nana's grave. It was nice of my in-laws to let me visit.

On Tuesday I got to fly down to St. George to visit my Gran and Jenn and her new baby. I came back the same day after enjoying good breakfast and lunch.  But I had to go to the Melty Way, a grilled cheese shop that my sister-in-law kept talking about (we had a plan for months to go here). It was so good. I had to show the world ie Facebook. Love pictures of me stuffing my gob.



Slow going

This April has been pretty boring.  It has been as slow as the plants I'm trying to go. Even if they have had a few near death experiences; they still seem to want to live.  Hopefully in May or June I will have nice pictures to show off.

I did bother to randomly be kind to people.  One was simple; I had to talk to a friend while she cleaned her house. I sat on her bed (the only clear place) and watch her throw out junk two years older and put her room in an orderly manner.  She said it wouldn't have gotten done because she couldn't just wonder off when she was bored with that room 'cause I was still sitting in there.  It was a little cathartic for me because I didn't realize that I had gotten rid of so much stuff last year when I did my 100 things closet and clean out my kitchen. No way would I get down to a 100 gadgets, but I could get rid of crappy bowls/Tupperware.  It was a little much to see all her stuff (to be fair she did go from a house to a two bedroom apartment).

My next one is spectacular.  I helped a girl have a 16 year old party.  Her mom didn't have money for a simple party of taking the Front Runner to Salt Lake, do the Temple Square thing, some historical sites and a lunch.  I thought this was awful mostly, because I expected a car (a crap car, but a car none the less) and something great because I was 16.  I figured if this girl wanted this relative cheap smart party she should have it.  I donated some money and can't wait to hear that she had a good time, or thought or whatever it is 16 year olds think of stuff.

Here is a photo of my knitting since everyone seems to be spitting out babies right now.
 BABY LEGGINGS!!!!

Thought I was in Trouble

This month I thought I wasn't going to make it on my good deeds, but I can say that I'm successful without even trying.

First deed may not really count because I am the one to receive it, but it was in the spirit of it so I get to count it because I'm the judge of this thing anyway.  I had called my friend freaking out, as I usually do, over work and left a panicked message. I then snidely told her to get back to me ASAP. It is a joke between us because I constantly call her and it takes a week or two for her to get back to me.  I didn't have a week this time and it drives me insane that she can't promptly get back to me.  So she called me back really late that day and left a message because I was working.  It was a rushed brain barf of a message and at the end of it she said really quickly, "You'll do great. I love you! Bye."  I was really surprised (eyebrow lifting, pulled up short, surprised).  She and I aren't super close, and I usually say something totally inappropriate to her in personal emotional situations that we talk about. So we don't close our conversations with trite and casual phrases. Anyway I was really touched because she meant it.  It had totally slipped out of her mouth because she was talking so fast in a total distracted manner.  I didn't realize how much it meant to me because I had this funny voice in my head that said, "See someone besides Daniel would care if you were dead."  I told the voice to shut up because I already have a sick fascination with death and being prepared for it, so I didn't need to start dwelling on that. 

So yeah doing something good without the person knowing that is the theme of the month.  This one I truly didn't know I was doing anything great even as it was told to my face.  I was out with a buddy of my from church doing our Visiting Teaching.  We use this as an excuse to get together since our lives are so busy (I don't even know how or why we became friends since we have seen each other a handful of times, but hey we clicked).  Anyway for once it got off the beaten track and we were laughing because she had said that her really good friend went to Paris and didn't even get her a crummy "My friend went to Paris and all I got was a T-shirt" shirt.  And she looked at me and I kept thinking, "Geez that person is a jerk" and I realize she was making fun of me and I didn't  even get it for a while, but then I  did I started to laugh (I don't do giving junk unless it speaks to me of that person).  Later on the conversation turned serious and she was telling someone that she didn't want her Visiting Teachers or her Visiting Teaching companion to change because that has been the biggest help in her life right now.  I knew who her teachers were, but for the life of me I couldn't think who her companion was and I was kind of jealous. And then it totally dawned on me she was talking about me.  I busted laughing because I didn't see myself that way.  I saw myself as her friend, and I am always the one that is just a friend and not "the life saving friend."  She looked at me, and I explained that I was trying to figure out who her companion was until it finally hit me. She thought I was the biggest ditz, but I must have been having a rough night not to be putting two an two together.

Onto Italy

Florence is one of the most happiest beautiful cities I've been to.  Since I was there in the gray and rain I can really say that.  I have wanted to come here since my senior year in high school where I learned about Michelangelo's Unbreakables and saw "A Room With A View"

Started trip off with Gelato

We got Florence by taking the night train. Daniel loves using the train to get around.  We got a sleeper car with four other people, and we picked up some really loud obnoxious teenagers that were loud and we had to yell at three times before they calmed down.  Daniel still likes to go by train because they are so fast and different.   Once in Florence we found our bed and breakfast out in the suburbs (we got to see the same local old men stand outside and argue about the same things near every morning, but when it rained).  First stop, food, and then I wanted to see the Duamo and the baptistery.



The Duamo, yes I'm in the picture, but the building dwarfs me you can barely see me even if I'm standing out in red.

The Dome

Dante Inferno





Going up the steps in the dome was so steep. It was one of the coolest, but harder hikes I've done. You climb at an angle it gets you to understand the earth is straight, but curved and you don't know it.  It is pretty trippy.



Having a nice sit with a view after our hike.



Going down



Baptistery

Gate of Paradise





We then tried to see the David it was closed on Monday, so we saw the replica of where the original stood.  We also got a layout of the city and walked every where.  The best part was eating at the cafes.  It was funny because all the places we ate were tourist traps and not good, but when we found some high rated sandwich shops we were in heaven.  Ham is different from Prosciutto and it is a big difference.  Just because I'm American doesn't mean that when I ask for Prosciutto I mean ham.

Daniel playing Assassin's Creed

We had to go back to the B&B because Daniel had a surprise for me.  We had walked so much that massive blisters had formed.  They were huge on both feet and took at least three bandaids to cover each one up.



The Next day we consentrated on seeing the David and the Unbreakables which are in a museum that they want you to buy prints so that you can't take your own pictures.  Even though it is to scale in the square the replica doesn't do it justice, but at the same time I think it is not shown to it's advantage in the square while the museum makes it magnificent. We also found a new sculpturest, Lorenzo Bartonlini, it was amazing just to see his castings (none of his actual works are in Florence, but mostly in France). My favorite is the The Inconsolable which is on a grave in Pisa. We then went to the Uffazi and saw the Birth of Venus which I liked before, but was really great with scale and in person.



Michelangelo's Grave 

Santa Croce

The courtyard of the De Medici chapel and Donatello's grave.

UNDER A LOGGIA

That is the title of one of the chapters in a Room With a View.  We always seemed to end up here sitting, enjoying the sculptures and people watch.  It was gorgeous at night, so we decided to get pictures of Florence at night.





An Obelisk for you Christine! Right in front of Santa Maria cathedral.

The Gold Market on the Arno

 

I loved that random street corners would have frescos out in the
open.










My new favorite thing to do is cooking classes in foreign countries. Daniel and I learned how to make a killer Tiramisu and fresh pasta. 

We took ourselves home by way of Milan, dirty little city--meh, so that we could get first class.  It was awesome because we got the flat beds.  Now that is the way to travel!