Max's Coal Pizzeria

Vic and I visited Max's Coal Pizzeria in Downtown because it received good reviews and it was a new pizza joint for my love. We were very impressed by the atmosphere but the food was average. We were quite disappointed because we felt it was overpriced. Needless to say, we will not be returning but if you have a group who can split a $20 medium pizza then you're in luck because this is the place for you.

Something new to crave.

and it is not a Honda.

I just discovered Diamond Glazed Pecans. They have to be the most amazing things that I have EVER put into my mouth. I used them along with a prepackaged mix for pecan bars and the outcome was phenomenal. These pecans taste just like the are drenched in molasses or syrup. I tried a few and I almost could not put them down. Outstanding. You can find them at Wal-Mart or least that is where I found them. You won't regret it. They have a few stellar recipes on the back such as Diamond Glazed Pecan Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes or Diamond Glazed Pecan studded Cornbread Muffins. I plan to make the frosted cupcakes soon so I will post the photos when completed.

Adventures with the Bitch: Story two

My poor little Duchess has been cooped up in the house or at doggy day care for nearly two weeks due to rain and home remodeling. The sun finally poked through the dark, ugly clouds today so I took her to this super awesome trail down the road. My boyfriend and I noticed one day that there was a paved and lit walkway under a bridge near our house. He checked it out the other day and reported to me that I needed to see it. He was right, I loved it. I took Duch there this morning and the trail runs into some softball/tee ball/baseball fields at the end. I took her inside the fence and locked the gate and she tore out, leaving nothing but mud and dirt in my face. I decided to run inside the fence as well and when I came around to the opposite side of the field there was a lovely little turtle. I affectionately refer to him as "Mr. Turtle". When Duch saw what I was playing with she immediately tried to pin it down and dig Mr. Turtle out of his shell. I took him away to safe place outside of the fence, but the amusing part of this story is that every time we reached that side of the field, Duch and I stopped to check on Mr. Turtle. She would stop before I did every time and sniff at the gate to locate Mr. Turtle. I am sure he has meandered his way back into the woods but I got a quick photo of him which is located above. He was pretty fly for a Testudine.

The Pottery Place.

Vic and I did not take his niece out for her birthday in June, so we decided now was just as good a time as any. I thought Decatur would be a great place to go because I wanted to visit the toy store there called Hoopla. We took a tour around Decatur, stopping at every "child friendly" place. We visited toy stores and candy stores ....and on and on. After lunch, we dropped into a little shop called The Pottery Place. Here, Vic, Alina, and I spent a couple hours hand painting little random ceramics. I haven't had that much fun since I went to 4-h camp. :) I have posted some of the pictures. The staff was so kind to provide a cupcake and ice cream to Alina because it was her "birthday". She had quite a day, little princess teacup.

"Get Coffee"

It's a rainy Saturday, like most of the days have been this week, and Poppy and I had to drag ourselves from the bed to get the day started. I suggested to him that we visit my favorite little local coffee shop called "Get Coffee" in Chamblee. I know is sounds very mundane, but they have the most excellent lattes and they also have sandwiches and breakfast foods. I stumbled upon this place one day when I got lost and fell in love with it. As you can see in the image above, they have funky decor and it is a very comforting and enjoyable atmosphere. The people who work there are super friendly and attend to your every whim. So if you are around the Chamblee area, you should definitely look them up.

http://www.codyrotten.com/getcoffee/

Lesson of the day: Latin Jazz is my Kryptonite

I signed up for dance classes about a week and a half ago. I was so excited about dancing again that I gave 150% of my energy to my first class therefore causing injury. I strained my hip and one day while I was attempting to sit Indian style, my hip locked up and I was in excruciating pain. I had to steer away from high impact workouts for a week!!! Sad but true. Today I felt I was ready to get back in the game. I chose Latin jazz because I am fairly good at shaking my bon-bon or at least I thought I was. They call the beginner courses "discover" so that really new dancers have a class where they can be surrounded by other beginners, unfortunately I did not know that the experienced dancers like to take beginners classes for shits and giggles. Much to my dismay, I was the absolute worst dancer in the class, surrounded by a sea of veteran dancers who blew me away. It was the longest hour ever. Somehow, I kept a smile on face for the duration of the class and then promptly exited while staring at the floor. I want to do hip-hop next but after being disgraced in Latin Jazz...I feel very intimidated. I may work up the nerve by next week. Cross your fingers.

Food for thought: You do the dishes.

Speakin of Brooklyn.....ahhhhhh...... Jay-Z(moniker one of many). Forget P Diddy or whatever he calls himself and I will go as far as to say forget Kanye. I think Shawn Carter is a lyrical genius. Keep in mind that this is coming from a white girl that does not know a great deal about hip-hop, but I think I can recognize talented folks. He has always been a favorite of mine. The Dynasty: Roc La Familia featuring Memphis Bleek and Beanie Sigel was my favorite album. I wore it out. I think I was very disappointed by the Blueprint album which apparently was a "classic" album to some. I honestly didn't dig it. He has collaborated with some of the finest and now successful talents in the world of hip-hop/pop and let's not forget rock (Linkin Park). I was watching his recent video with Rihanna and I was impressed. There was a period of time that he was becoming a questionable rapper (at least in my mind) but it seems that even if he's wrong, he's usually right. So here's to you Hova. Brooklyn, we go hard.

No Sleep Til Brooklyn

It was a convenient coincidence that my better half owned several Brooklyn shirts before I came along. Maybe it was a sign (wink ,wink). Here he is before our evening walk with the Duchess. I think he reps Brooklyn pretty well and he prefers no sleep til Brookelyn. :)

Artist Showcase: Richard Marsh Jr.

Richard has been my friend for many years now and I have always been impressed with his writing and him in general. I think his enigmatic personality makes his writing even more attractive because I never know his intended audience and maybe he doesn't either. He is a wonderful father to the handsome young man in the image above. J is proof that Richie makes beautiful things no matter what he does. May I present the writing of Mr. Marsh. Warning: this piece contains profanity.

"If God was present, and it wasn't my birthday nor Christmas, would the gifts bestowed have any real reason to be given? "

The heavy silver metal rested at a small, circular point on my forehead. It was gleaming with the innocence of a misguided function, like watching a child play with a butcher knife for the first time. From the point of personal contact the gleam extended up a barrel, past the chrome plated trigger, and into a hand robed in a white glove. The white glove was amazingly clean, as clean as what you'd imagine an angel would wear to a dinner party, or one of Jay-z's private party. I wondered, "how could my death, or anyone one else's for that matter, come from a vessel that only has a purpose of function, that's being held by an angel's colour?" The thought made me smirk. That smirk got me smacked down to the floor by the sliver 45.

"The fuck is funny?" "This shit's amusing? Do I fucking amuse you?" The two people tied down and restrained in opposite ends of the room both gasped and screamed. It was as though the pain my cheek bone had then experienced surged through their veins at that very moment. It's funny how being in the middle, only a few feet from those you want to protect, can feel so far from them that you can't remember what it was to actually touch them.

"So what's your answer?" What's it gonna be?" "It's all up to you for now?" "But don't fucking waste my time!" "Someone here's gonna die....and they're gonna die by your choice."

Dazed, dripping, maybe from blood or sweat, and completely at odds, I tried to regain control of the mind that was once mine, but at this moment was in the hands of function....in the hand of the white glove. "Someone has to die. Ok, if I die, but I have a son, people who depend on me, responsibilities, and..." my thoughts were instantly separated from my body with a kick in the chest with a white, steel-toed boot.

"The fuck are you doing!" Without so much a moment of hesitation, he turned to his left and shot one the tied observes in the thigh. "Does that help your concentration?!" "No, I said calmly."

Evidently my response was unnerving to him, cause he darted down to the floor and lifted me to a seated position. Gripping my neck so tightly that the act of breathing now was being controlled by that angelic white glove, he held my head even and steady. "Look at the funny man now," he said as he put the 45 against my eye. "I'm willing to bet you that right about now you're seeing God huh?"

I don't know how to describe what had happened. Maybe I realized that we three would soon die, not so much because of the choices I was going to make, but because of things already decided, acted upon, and reacted to from my past. But, after a couple of seconds of swallowing blood, and focusing my eye on the face of the man who held function with an angelic grip I said,"Nah, all I see is that no matter what I've done, who I've hurt, and how I've lived, we all are gonna have blood on our hands. The only difference between you and I is that I don't, and won't ever try to hide my evils behind the white."

I can't say that God was there when life had failed me, nor can I say that God has taken favour on any of those who have had times too rough to write about. But I can say that, no matter your past, no matter your obstacle, no matter how difficult or insufferable your vision may see your circumstances may see things, you are given a life that you should live as best as you can. You will falter, learn to laugh it off. You will be hurt, learn to cry through it. You will triumph, learn to share it. But always live knowing that nobody, angels, people, fate, nor function wears gloves that are white their whole lives through.

Marsh

Adventures with the Bitch: Story one.

Blindsided in the park.

Duchess (aka the bitch) has been cast to the side recently due to our home renovations. I use to get up every morning and have a cup of Joe and then take her for a jog/run round the hood. Since we have had strangers in the house and she is a complete psycho, she has spent many days at doggie daycare. Her breed in particular (http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/jindo.htm), are very loyal dogs and need to be near their owners. If not, they start acting out and being foolish which really ticks me off. It is literally the nearest thing to having a child. So yesterday I decided to take her out for our daily jaunt, twice. The second time, we left the house and the temperature outside was amazing. It was approximately 6 or 6:30 when we departed. We took the opposite route from the morning walk because I get bored with the scenery.

We stepped out around the corner and headed toward the nice little park area in our neighborhood. We were just going to circle the park and then head down the side street. I must note that the Bitch is very leash aggressive because she was abused before my boyfriend rescued her. With that being said, we take the turn around the park and there stands a medium size dog without a leash. Immediately, I stop to get her under control. The other dogs ears were down in a playful "I'm just hanging out" manner. So I wait a few more minutes and then I see a very large dog, also without a collar, rushing down the hill. I'm in panic mode and the hair on the Bitch's back is standing straight up. Oh NO! I see the owner who is completely unaware of what is about to transpire, coming down the hill, football in hand. The large dog sees the Bitch and realizes that she has already assumed the "I'm gonna rip you into shreds" mode and he starts to charge. The medium size then follows cause obviously that is what is required of him. At this point, I had to let the Bitch go because she would have bitten me if I would have gotten in the way of her rage. Both dogs jump D simultaneously and start biting and clawing and all kinds of craziness. I am standing there dumbfounded and the other owner is trying to pull the dogs off of D. I was also astounded that my little fierce Bitch is cowering under the massive dog that has begun HUMPING her. I think she was a bit shocked herself. She ran to me after that were finished molesting and biting her. NEWS REPORT: no real damage..it was basically play fighting on crack. I brought her home immediately to check for wounds and they didn't even break the skin. Proof that my dog is completely psycho, she was jumping around in the house and standing at the door to go back outside and play fight some more. Crazy Biotch.