HOTlanta Highlights

Highlight 1: My rental car ended up being a bus. Almost. Turns out, a Tahoe is a HUGEEE "car."


When the rental car guy asked if I was ok having a Tahoe since they ran out of midsized cars, I didn't think twice. "Sure!" I said, "I'm not picky." I had envisioned something the size of a Honda CR-V.

Uhm, notsomuch.

Add to that, the actual GPS functionality of the GPS had been turned off. I thought it was off just because I was in a parking garage. Again, notsomuch. So, imagine me driving the big white cloud bus THROUGH downtown Atlanta on I-85 with NO IDEA where I am going. In heels. With no GPS.

(Luckily, I remember the days before GPS and had printed out directions. It's a good thing I did, because the office is definitely almost an hour from the airport.)

Also, I couldn't park that thing to save my life. I literally parked a mile away from the building in a spot that I could pull in to.

Highlight 2: Room Service!





Ahem, :: free to me :: room service. The best kind!

Highlight 3: Directly related to number two, free meals! I'm a big fan of per diems now. Especially since they include alcohol.


They also include hibachi restaurants (I was too busy oohing and ahhhing at the onion volcano to take a pic).

Highlight 4: Swanky hotel with he best. beds. ever.


I also adore their overabundance of Christmas decorations.


The only "lowlight" of HOTlanta? It wasn't even hot! In fact, it was colder than Chicago. So cold that there was ice on the windshield this morning and I had to walk to work since I wasn't about to drive the bus with even LESS ability to see.

Of course, tomorrow is supposed to be in the mid 60s. And where am I? Back home, in the cold.

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A Change in Scenery

This morning, I traded in my usual work attire (sweats) for actual work clothes.


(Yes, mom, I am that woman in a business suit and heels in the airport :) )

The benefits of this happen to be breakfast at the best restaurant in Chicago - Frontera by Rick Bayless.


It was delicious.


However, I wasn't exactly expecting to have to go outside in the 30 degree weather to board the plane.


Luckily, some nice businessman offered to lift my suitcase onto that heap of carry on suitcases.

That's how us business types roll, you know. We're all in this (tiny plane) together.

...waiting for them to fix the landing gear.

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Location:Access Rd,Chicago,United States

Office Space | Progress Report

Ohhhh working from home. I LOVE YOU!!! I could go on and on and on about all the benefits: so much more sleep, I haven't gotten gas in 3 weeks, there's less laundry to do, no more purchased lunches, NO MORE COMMUTING!!!

...and so on.

But like the big dork that I am, one of the things I am the most excited about is creating my own office. Most of the necessities (and boring stuff) are paid for by my new company. HOWEVER! That has not stopped me from purchasing the cute version of the necessities. Observe:


This is my super hot wireless keyboard (not pictured: matching super hot wireless mouse). Also purchased were the prettiest pen, pencil, and highlighter colors (purple should ALWAYS be a highlighter color in a combo pack!), and the cutest thumb drive I could find.

But the most fun has been the decorating. I am a woman, after all.

And Hubs? Let's just say that he's secured his spot as sweetest husband in the world by making sure I get the office I always dreamed of...even when I am fighting off some random post-strep virus in the middle of a black friday Ikea run and decide that the curtains I've always loved are "too much work." He picked up all 45. billion. pieces. of them (side rant: seriously, Ikea? Stop selling every single component separately!!) just so I would be excited about my "dream office."

Things are nowhere near done. In fact, out house looks like an episode of Hoarders - almost an entire room of junk being thrown away in batches while oodles of ginormous boxes are being unpacked with shelves, a desk, and a (clearance!) couch.


Oh, and that picture you see on the right? HOLLAND, baby!! Specifically, a canal in Amsterdam. It might just be my favorite Ikea purchase ever.

I can't wait for this all to come together!!

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Door Decoration Appreciation

I have to say that I am really digging our neighbors' door decorations.


Yay for someone being in the Christmas spirit!

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The Best is Yet to Come

In a word, my Daddy's retirement party was amazing.  The theme?  "The Best is Yet to Come."  It was blaring on the speakers when he pulled into the driveway. :)

I'm not even going to attempt a narrative for this - the pictures speak for themselves.

Setting up

The arrival

Family picture time!

Not really sure what is going on here??

The big reveal

Love.

Giant steak for the retiree

Hubs smelling (???) the giant steak

Jackson is sneaking beer already

Cheers!

Time for a cigar to celebrate!

Hubs was cracking. up.

This picture kills me!

Presents!