New York State of Mind

After what has been an exhausting 3 weeks of global client workshops up in New Jersey, I am finally back home in Atlanta.  Plus, no travel next week means I am such a happy gal!  And, icing on the cake, James isn't traveling next week either!!  WOO-HOO!  People take for granted seeing their significant other each day, but in the Sasser household is a pretty rare thing.

In between two of those weeks up in Jersey, James met me in the city for a little weekend get-away.  We kicked off our weekend with a very late dinner at Tao, and enjoyed very yummy sushi rolls, a fortune cookie filled with custard, and our random celebrity sighting (see last post).  We ended the night with a political debate with our friends, where James was the lone Republican but held his own thanks to his freakish knowledge of stats and numbers and the fact that by 3AM he had worn down us crazy liberals.

The next day was a slow start (as staying up to 3AM is so much harder than it used to be), but once we were out and about we decided to head to Brooklyn.  Sapna had recommended Grimaldi's pizza, and warned us of a line outside.  No joke - we got there at 11:45AM for the noon opening, and had to wait an hour before we got a table inside!  I thought the pizza was delicious though, and worth the wait.  (James is still on the fence, but I think he's just scarred from staying hungry for so long.)

After the pizza and a walk around the water, we made the trek back into Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge.  What a fun experience!  It helped that we had the most gorgeous Fall weather.

After meandering around the Financial district, we found ourselves in Chinatown and Little Italy.  Fighting all the other tourists and New Yorkers who were also excited about blue skies and mild temps, James all the sudden said "I'd like to try a canoli".  Shocked, I said "you've never had a CANOLI"?  (Sadly, I had eaten two that week alone, spending so much of my life up in Jersey.)  Thus, we started on the hunt for an Italian bakery, where we finally found one with both regular and chocolate canolis.  Heaven on earth.

By this time it was getting late and we had Saturday night Broadway plans, so we fought our way to an open cab and made it to the hotel in time to see a gorgeous sunset over New Jersey.

That night we had tickets to see American Idiot, a newer Broadway show featuring music by Green Day.  Now, I'm not necessarily a "punk" music fan, but I know enough of their hits.  James had mentioned wanting to see it, and I of course JUMPED at his suggestion because it's not every day that he  says "hey, I'd like to see a musical...."  The show was just fantastic, and I still think their rendition of 21 guns was one of the most moving songs I've heard live.  (If you're curious, check it out on you tube.)

Sunday was spent being lazy and eating and shopping.  After doing some major damage to the Visa card at the world's largest department stores, I had to sadly say goodbye to my honey and head back to Jersey with great memories and the song "hope you had the time of your life" in my head...

Celebrity Sighting up in NYC!

James and I are spending this weekend up in New York City, mainly because I'm in really long workshops over in New Jersey and it just made sense for us to meet up together here.  Can't complain, though, because I totally heart NYC.  I worked in midtown on a project for 4 months, which I like to refer to as my consulting "glory days".

So last night we hit up one of those very trendy NYC restaurants that you have to use a credit card to reserve a month in advance just to get a 9PM table.  The food was very, very good, and the atmosphere and service was fabulous.  The best part of the evening, though, was a celebrity sighting!!  John Rich (from Big and Rich) and Lil John sat next to us (together - odd pair, right). 

I would have loved to posted a picture here of me with my arm around these fellas, but alas my husband would not let me be "that girl".  So I leave you below of these two gentleman who I had the pleasure of gawking at last night:

Watching a Miracle....Live

I have been captivated with the Chilean mine rescue that began late last night, following their 68 day survival almost 2,000 meters under the earth.  Although I only spent a short (relatively) 8 months in Chile back in the early 2000s, I still feel a connection with the country. Maybe because I love the people and love the culture and love the food and LOVE the memories I have as a young 20 year old living in the “thin country” – but Chile holds a very special place in my heart.  I’ve been following this story closely, and keeping them very much in my prayers.

I don’t think we realize how amazing it is to see what we see today, live.  Last night, Anderson Cooper was sharing with us LIVE streaming video from underneath the earth where the miners were getting into the tiny capsule, LIVE video from above the earth where their families waited anxious, LIVE voices from the miner’s mics as they took the 15 minute ride up to the surface….anyone with cable and an internet connection got to witness that amazing rescue! 

For some reason it took me back around 20+ years ago when Baby Jessica fell down the well in Texas.  Remember that?  As a young child I was traumatized by that incident, and I remember so many things about it clearly. Including where I was when we heard the news: in the car with my grandparents and they were listening to the radio when breaking news interrupted a sports broadcast to announce that she was out of the well.  No live footage on every cable channel – just the same picture of the rescuer holding a tiny bandaged child plastered on the evening news and the cover of weekly magazines.  I can literally close my eyes and still see the picture.  It’s completely imprinted in my mind. 

I just read in an article on cable media that the Baby Jessica rescue was one of CNN’s first stories to follow live…and they were subsequently criticized for creating a “media circus”.   Ah, if they only knew then what we’d have access to now!  I’m able to sit in a meeting today and stream live video from the mine rescue on my laptop, plus keep track with minute-by-minute page refreshes of who is still underground (see below).  I’m not going to dwell too much about if so much media access is a good or bad thing.  I agree that we sometimes get out of hand (e.g. Lindsey Lohan?).  I'm just glad that today we’re focused (live) on an event nothing short of a miracle, which demonstrates so much hope, faith and perseverance.  Gods speed to the rest of the miners! 

Apple Pickin' and Pig Eatin'

There are lots of things that Fall brings with it:  college football, cooler weather, allergies (blah)...  Here in Georgia, Fall brings something else - festivals.   Being a Texan and all, I'm used to a good festival (Folk Life in San Antonio, Brazos River in Waco....aaah, good family memories), but I think that here in Georgia they time their festivals right with the harvest of something.   This weekend, it was APPLES.

On Sunday morning we crossed the Atlanta perimeter and headed up to Ellijay for the Georgia Apple Festival.  The little square was wildly decorated with pumpkins and scarecrows and hay, and then of course huge crates of apples.  We walked amongst the arts and crafts and I drug James into a few antique stores, but after about an hour we headed out to the where the real action was - the orchard.

Friends we met in Ellijay, GA

Geez louise there must have been half the county at this particular orchard that we selected (which was based off the road sign that boasted "world's most famous fried apple pie" - that got my vote!)  We fought through the families and the bikers (as in those on Harley Davidsons - I guess they like apple pickin' in their chaps), and we managed to snag a bag and head to the trees.  I've never picked apples before, but I can see that there is an art beyond "oh, that one looks sort of good".  I think we twisted off as many bad apples as good ones, but nonetheless, it was a really fun way to spend such a gorgeous day together.

The orchard didn't just have trees, but capitalized on the crowd with a huge bakery, ciders, candy and caramel apples, honey, and other fruits/veggies.  And then of course their fried apple pies, which I was more than happy to try out.  Yum..

Now, we can't leave this part of the country without stopping at a BBQ joint, because James knows that once we're ITP (inside the Perimeter) I'm going to make him eat something healthy.  Along the road we saw what looked to be a happenin' place called "Col Poole's BBQ and Pig Hill of Fame".  "Hill of Fame" referred to the fact that 1) they were located on a hill and 2) you could sign your name on a plastic pig poster and tape it to the wall, ceiling or the stake it in the hill, thus immortalizing yourself forever as a pork lover.

Cute, yes, but among all these pig cutouts and pig paraphernalia were also signs for Deal and every other Republican candidate in the state.  James was already excited about the pig ribs so I just had to ignore the political signs.  Col. Poole still has a problem with the French, though, and one must order "Freedom Fries" to go with your ribs.  I swore if I saw one stars-and-bars flag I was out of there, but I they stopped just short with Tea Party fliers.  

Such a lovely Sunday with my husband, taking in all the goodness that Fall and the South has to offer.

Are you following?

Just when I think I'm getting fairly tech savvy, I realize that I am completely delusional and most 10 year olds can handle some of the new gadgets better than me.  Sure, I've mastered the e-boarding pass on my blackberry; I just went from 0 to 2 Apple products in a month; AND I'm in the blogging world.  But the truth is, I don't know a quarter of what these things can actually do!

Take the iMac.  I have finally learned, as of this weekend, how to expand a webpage on the screen.  Excellent, considering that I've had it for 3 weeks and finally had to ask the Apple people how to do it.  I am still very confused by where to find my files and why I can't right click on the magic track pad.  (Maybe getting a gadget mouse on top of a computer was too big of a step for me?) 

I also now have an iPad thanks to the sweet hubby, and I have mastered how to read my Stieg Larsson on it plus surf the net.  Oh, and I bought my first app - an old favorite from my palm pilot days, "bejeweled".   I can tell after one weekend that I'm going to love, love, love the iPad, but I've gots to figure out how to use it!   I still look like an 90-year old woman, punching on the screen with her pointer finger because I don't know how to even type on the dang keyboard. 

Ah, technology.  One day I think I'll realize all the potential I have at my fingertips with these two toys, but until then I will just look like a goofball trying to perform the simplest of tasks.

And then there is the blog.  James, sweetheart that he is, is convinced that there are all sorts of things I can be doing with the blog and he asks me all the time why I'm not doing these "things".  Widgets, links, feeds, etc.  I have no clue what any of these things are I'm supposed to be doing.  He also told me I need "followers", and I managed to find and add this widget to the blog.  I don't know what it does, but - TA DA - it's now on the blog!  So, if you are someone who likes to get Sass'd and read up on our lives and antics, you can now FOLLOW US.  Just don't ask me what that means...because I have no clue.  :)

A little Texas fills my soul

Celebrating our anniversary last Sunday was only one highlight of a very fun weekend that James and I spent down in the great State of Texas.  Everyone knows that I will use any excuse to return to my beloved homeland, but this time we had some very good ones:  friends and family. 

Friday morning I headed down to South Congress for Christy’s bridal brunch, and we got to feast on some lovely brunch food with an Austin flair (chipotle hollandaise, anyone?)  I can’t believe that 10 years ago Christy and I were starting out our college careers at UT, living together at Scottish Rite Dormitory and trying not to pack on the freshman-fifteen from all the yummy food and CCBs.  That seems like so long ago, but then also just yesterday.  I instantly liked Christy when I met her, and had no qualms about spending the next two years as her roomie.  She’s one of the most genuine, enjoyable people that I know.

A couple of freshman, Christmas 2000

A couple of married gals, September 2010

Friday night we headed out to the growing city of Kyle to visit our dear, dear friends Krystal and Aaron. The last time I was at their house I had never even heard of Kyle and there was nothing between William Cannon and the Kyle exit.  They were one of about 4 houses on their (now busy) street.  Today, you pass the mega Cabelas (more on that later), shopping centers, and (most importantly) the world’s largest HEB!  (I tried to make James stop and taking pictures of the HEB, but we didn’t get a good one because he said the store manager might think we were terrorists.   Thus, no pictures to post).  

After spending a good deal of time catching up, we headed to the county line liquor store and loaded up for a quick hop/skip/jump to the Salt Lick.  I think the Salt Lick is one of my favorite places – not only for the delicious BBQ and sides, but also for the experience.  They don’t accept reservations, they don’t have a liquor license, they only a pretty limited menu (basically BBQ, cole slaw and potato salad), but they always a HUGE crowd.  People kill time during the 2 hour wait by sitting on their coolers and sipping on the beers they brought.

We were prepared for this, and patiently put our name on the list.  Fortunately for us, Krystal knows 98% of the entire 40,000 population of Kyle and of course knew the hostess!  We were quickly ushered to a table, and we sat stunned that we had sat down before we even had time to ice down the Dos Equis.  (Oh, and to prove that my husband has more random skills and knowledge than anyone I know – he taught everyone how to quickly and easily slice a lime with only a butter knife and fork.  What a character.)  Below are a few pictures of our BBQ to make your mouth water.   To Krystal and Aaron – we had such a wonderful time with y’all!  Hope to do it again SOON.

On Saturday we drove back to Austin, and could not pass through Buda, Tx without stopping at Cabela’s.  The store probably has its own zip code, houses more dead, stuffed animals than most city history museums, and has every single piece of clothing or accessory you would ever wear in camo print.  We managed to leave without actually buying anything, only because James wouldn’t be able to fit any type of weapon, deer stand, or camo-colored 4-wheeler in his carry on.

And that evening – the real impetus for the Austin trip – we dressed up all fancy and went to the beautiful wedding of Chris and Christy.  She was absolutely stunning in her dress, and he didn’t look so bad himself! What I loved most were all of the details throughout the night that just exuded their personalities and creativity:  salsa dancing their first dance (with Christy switching into a short, sassy dress); gourmet ice cream sandwiches for dessert; gorgeous, unique flowers; a coffee truck; a slide show of their life; and Chris challenging guests to a dance off on the dance floor.  We had a blast.

After two days with great friends, Sunday was devoted to family (both the Kerr family and our two-some Sasser family).  We got up early and headed to Waco, stopping first to see my grandmother and spend some time with her.  She, as always, remembered such detailed things about her early years in the 40s and 50s, and then gave us her opinions on some current political/culture things that surely show her conservative upbringing during that era!   

We left her and headed out to my parents' house, where we were surprised to find my brothers at home, too. I don’t think I can remember when at least 2 of the 4 were not at home, and although my mom talks about how “crazy” the Kerr house can get I secretly know they love it.  They also have a new little poodle puppy, so it was quite the full house! Daddy just “whipped up” some shrimp creole, making even the roux look effortless, but for dessert we had nothing less than frozen wedding cake.  Mother had saved not just a bite but rather the whole top layer of our cake.  It was still very good, and we went through the ceremony of lovingly feeding each other (awe) to hopefully bring us some good luck. 

We also got to return to the site where it all went down one year ago – the Carleen Bright Arboretum.  We practically had the place to ourselves, so we walked around the grounds and took advantage of the automatic timer on the camera to capture all sorts of sentimental memories.  Awe – love this boy.   

One Year

One year ago I got Sass'd - I went from a Miss to a Mrs, and James went from a bachelor to my husband.  It's been such a wonderful year, and part of the reason I started this blog!  To remember all the things that we share as a family.

And so that we can remember a little of the ceremony where we began this life adventure together....


Remembering Our Wedding - One Year Ago from Jennie Sasser on Vimeo.

(There's music - so turn up your volume!)