Funny how it gives you a completely different perspective. I can't BELIEVE I thought I'd be just fine if I never had a child in my life. It has made me a better person too. In every way...

Just a reminder that it's tough for us to monitor every, single comment that comes through our system. We get HUNDREDS a day. If you see one that is questionable or that violates our terms of service, please flag it. Zack, Joel and I get emails to our phones and will look into every flagged comment immediately...

Thanks!

@nowheregirl: Good to be back!

We're totally obsessed with The Walking Dead. Best show on television!

[quote][b]Digdug[/b] - Except for the shoe part, I'll do your job for a while!! It will a totally different place when you get back.... >)[/quote]

Maybe I should start a program like "Bring a commenter to work" day... Hmmmmmmm.

[quote][b]dinodungdan[/b] - I'd give you time away from the office, but I don't think I would be a good fit.....literally...

I don't think I would fit behind your desk....[/quote]

Oh come on! I'll make some room for ya! Haha.

[quote][b]Robyn[/b] - I know, the "Be Andrea Griffith for a day" reward for 7 points is going to be really awesome.[/quote]

Oh Lawd. I'd gladly let someone step into my shoes for FREE! I'd just take a little vacation and look forward to all my work getting done and everything being sorted while I was away. Ahhhh... I can taste the margaritas now...

[quote][b]Follow the Money[/b] -

@Andrea Griffith: Care to comment on the flagpole story? Or the firing?

[/quote]

Unfortunately, as many of you who have been/are in management know, I can't comment on personnel/company issues. If I could, I certainly would, and it would ONLY be here and to you guys. This type of discussion is what Athens Talks was built for and- as you know- I'm a big fan.

I appreciate you reaching out, I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've been the one being asked for comment instead of demanding it (as a journalist). Feels strange.

And @nowheregirl is right. I haven't posted much on here lately because I've just been so busy. Hopefully, as we ease into summer, I'll be able to jump in more. I'm still (+)ing and (-)ing and watching what everyone has to say and I'm still contributing "talkers" to Joel. I'm also SUPER psyched to have Robyn back on board to work on some projects that are really, really exciting.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

"In January 2012, Tucker Max claimed that he was leaving behind the lifestyle he had described in his books and that he had been in psychotherapy." -Wikipedia

Good. Hopefully, he'll use his notoriety to actually do something worthwhile. I guess we'll see...

[quote][b]jtsim[/b] - What's wrong with Quaker Oats oatmeal? Do you think because it came from Trader Joe's it's any better than, say the Wal-mart brand? It does not matter where it came from, how much it cost, or what you do to it,it's still oatmeal.[/quote]

Ummmmm...nope. I just had a bunch of packs of oatmeal (of different kinds and brands) stuffed into a plastic bag and happened to pull out the Trader Joe's that morning. Probably because they were both the same color. Doesn't matter to me what kind it is. Usually tastes the same... (shrug)

I wouldn't want to be the one to win all that money...especially in the midst of this frenzy. Just give me FIVE numbers. That would do very nicely! Hee hee.

I had some oatmeal this morning. Trader Joe's Apples and Cinnamon. Yum.

I use it to find recipes, travel ideas, home decor trends, etc. and "pin" it to my board so I can easily find it later. I "pinned" a recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup from Athens Talks and it was "repinned" by someone in less than a couple of minutes. A great way to get good information to a lot of people...fast!

@bb80: "Nature’s Harmony cheese is available at only a few places in town. Big City Bread smothers its burgers in the Youngs’ cheese. Earth Fare regularly stocks it, as does the Heirloom Cafe and Fresh Market on Chase Street."

I had no idea about this. I'm going to have to check out their cheeses. Yum!!!!

I swear... it just blows my mind how people can be so cruel. And to BABIES and toddlers!!!!????? Absolutely un-be-lievable.

@Digdug: LOL. Looks like it! Maybe that's why that dude has on a cape (or something that at least looks like one)...

Here's one of my faves. Price point varies but more expensive than your regular bottle. Great for an occasion like V-Day.

I spent about a year hosting Saturday wine tastings at Shiraz on Pulaski Street (in the Leathers Bldg). There are some really fine wine shops in Athens but- for me- I have to say that Shiraz has one of the best selections. The owner has a fantastic palate and I never once had a wine I didn't like there. Most of the price points are around 12 bucks...

Hmmmm.

Wellllll....

The circular saw, windshield wipers and kevlar are just a few inventions by females.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/10-things-that-wo...

Oh, and how 'bout the refrigerator, fire escape, elevated railway, rotary engine, and medical syringe?

http://blog.retrofitrepublic.com/2011/03/womens-herstory-month-contest-t...

Plus, modern women are now at the helm, expanding corporations that have traditionally been run by men. Kraft Foods, PepsiCo, Dupont and Yahoo! are just a few who have females in the top spots.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/most-powerful-women/2011/full_list/

It also (apparently) doesn't take us as long to graduate from college and move on to become the heads of household.

http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/01/29/women-more-likely-than-men-to-...

Once we're making the decisions for our household, we become the sole marketing focus of every company on the planet because- at that point- we have all the buying power. In fact, we can even influence those same companies to change the way they operate based on what WE think of their practices...

http://www.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,2031700,00.html

Oh, and there's that little talent we have of MAKING PEOPLE, at the very same time we're inventing things, taking care of our families, running billion dollar businesses, making phone calls to check on friends who are hurting, passing along an encouraging note to someone who needs a boost, taking the kids to soccer practice, cooking dinners, making lunches and organizing events to raise money for causes. And in our SPARE time, we work on ideas to try and change the world for the better.

http://www.biographyonline.net/people/women-who-changed-world.html

So, I'm really not really gettin' your point...

When I heard this was coming to Athens, I looked it up. Check out this video from an event in Orlando...INSANE!

I traded in my Honda a few weeks ago after driving it for ELEVEN years! It just started having problems and I didn't want to put anymore money/effort into it.
It was hard to walk away from that thing, though. We've been through a lot together.

Here's more info: http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2012-01-11/danielsville-mayor-resigns

When I was a kid, my mom always loved to take tours along the Natchez Trace. I can still remember walking through those plantation homes and how BIG they seemed to a little girl. Some of my fondest memories from my childhood...

I'm in a rental and the kitchen floor was heinous. Dirty, disgusting, blah! I didn't want to spend much money but needed an update, so I bought some of those "stick on" tiles to put down. It cost me about $60 bucks and the new floor made such a HUGE difference. It was a little difficult cutting them to fit around the edges, but super easy otherwise. The kitchen is one of my favorite rooms now...