When traveling during the winter months, I always try to leave a day early to make sure any weather delays or other problems don't screw up my schedule. It's a necessary evil that I usually loathe because the last thing I want to do is be stuck traveling an extra day if I don't have to. But when traveling to Atlanta I never mind so much because there's some really good blogger friends that inhabit the area. Since I didn't have any travel problems, this left me all day to hang out with the gang and do some really cool stuff. Sweet!
The day started out at the High Museum to see a special exhibit by one of my absolute heroes... Leonardo Da Vinci. His works have such profound meaning to me that I never pass up an opportunity to see an exhibit, and this was almost too good to be true. Even better, Kevin, Beth, Diana, and Muskrat were kind enough to accompany me (after a lecture on how we couldn't point to anything with an ink pen because the pen might explode on the priceless artifacts... if we simply must point at something with a writing instrument, golf pencils would happily be provided). I thought the exhibit was wonderful, featuring some incredible pages from Leonardo's sketchbooks...
If you're in Atlanta, it's well-worth a stop. The exhibit runs through February 21st.
After lunch in Buckhead, Kevin, Beth, and I headed back down to the Alliance Theater for a show by Chicago's Second City comedy troupe called "Peach Drop, Stop, and Roll." It's a highly-Atlanta-specific performance that shows no mercy in ribbing some of the city's most famous (infamous) places, people, and traditions...
If you're an Atlanta local looking for a laugh, the show has been extended to December 27th, and is worth a look.
Since it's impossible to have too much to eat when visiting Atlanta, we decided to go eat miracle French fries at Five Guys back in Buckhead since there was an establishment next door that has a Coke Freestyle Soda Fountain Machine. This miraculous piece of Epic Win is able to custom-mix over 100 soda flavors on demand, including my beloved ORIGINAL COKE WITH LIME!!
After our pre-dinner, we headed up to Maggiano's Little Italy for real dinner, where we met up with Julie, Heather & Ty-Man, and Muskrat & Deb. A fantastic time (and fantastic meal!) was had by all, though not one of us seemed to think of taking a photograph.
The reunion was made bitter-sweet by the absence of some dear blogger friends, including Anissa, who has been in the hospital since Tuesday after suffering a massive stroke. It was less than four months ago that she was sitting right next to me... laughing along with everybody and stealing a bite of my fried macaroni & cheese balls...
Anissa, looking lovely in fuschia on the far right.
For anybody looking for news on how Anissa's doing, her husband Peter has been posting updates over at Hope4Peyton. There was also a nice piece in yesterday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution (thanks to Father Muskrat for the link). All my best wishes to the Mayhew family for Anissa's recovery.
And now I'm back at my four-star College Co-Ed Party Hotel blasting Thompson Twins in my earbuds to drown out the hard-partying in the next room and down the hallway. I requested a late check-out tomorrow so I can (hopefully) catch up on the sleep I missed from last night and tonight. I don't know if that's going to work, but I can only guess everybody will take off for church in the morning to leave me with some peace and quiet for a while.
Fingers crossed.
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It looks like a great day had by all. Good luck on that sleep.
I have been following Anissa’s story since your first tweet about it. I don’t know her, have never met her. But through the love of her fellow bloggers, I have been touched in a way I cannot describe. I hope for her recovery and cry each day for her. She (and her family) have been though so much… why does she need to go through this???
*sob*
Everything happens for a reason.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Sorry I missed all the fun….in a weird 6 degrees of separation way I heard about Anissa. I read a blogger from Canada and she asked for prayers….this web thing is truly amazing. My thoughts are with the Mayhews, and I’m so glad you guys had a great Atlanta time.
Val
We were sorry you couldn’t make it too! Maybe next time!
1. I was totally squeeing FOR you yesterday when I saw you found your blessed Coke with Lime. I know how awesome it is to find things that have seemingly disappeared!
2. I was totally jealous that I wasn’t able to see you all but happy that you had such a great time.
3. I thought about the Anissa thing a little yesterday as well because she was at your last gathering there…it’s very sad stuff.
1) The problem is that it wasn’t “real” Coke with Lime like I remember it… the lime was kind of overpowering, not a refreshing tinge like I remember it being. Maybe the machine wasn’t calibrated properly?Oh well… it was better than nothing!
2) Next time I’m in Atlanta, you need to road-trip! There are some really great people here you should meet!
3) Indeed. In so many ways it just doesn’t seem possible. 🙁
Love DaVinci.
Do college kids go to church after partying all night? I hope they did and you got to sleep in.
I certainly hope they do… otherwise I may never get any sleep!
Oh! Coke with Lime!
I saw that machine on come Coke documentary the other day. Didn’t even think of Coke with Lime as an option.
I seriously could live with it being the ONLY option!
You forgot the joy you experienced watching the Tide give a drubbing to UTC with me! I’m trying not to be hurt. Especially since I got to eat your unopened “take home plate” of 4-cheese ravioli today.
I had similar thoughts to yours at dinner last night but still really enjoyed getting together with everyone again. Hope your project south of here goes well and that you have a happy Thanksgiving!
That was some excellent ravioli. Eating it as leftovers would be twice as tasty because it had been twice-baked! And that wasn’t much of a game… I think Alabama was up by 70 when I left?
Fried maccerz & cheez pelotaz?! I am drowning in envious drool.
As well you should be… it may kill you with its fat content, but fried macaroni and cheese balls is heaven on earth.
I really really want to try a Coke Freestyle machine. I miss real Coke with Lime, too. Maybe on your next visit, pull out a flask with rum and make it alcoholic. Coke with Lime and rum is a good combo.
I liked Coke with Lime in a lot of different alcoholic beverages… it was an excellent mixer. A Long Island is perfect too if you garnish with a lime slice instead of lemon.
MSNBC had a Coca Cola documentary on the other day. It was full of awesome. They showed one of those Freestyle machines and I knew the future had arrived. So envious of you.
I wish that they used a real lime juice instead of the lime flavoring that’s in there though… it doesn’t taste nearly as good as the Coke with Lime I remember. 🙁