Apple Bottom Jeans

This is hilarious. Big sister in the back probably just needs to be enrolled in gymnastics. Bless her heart, she just can't dance and is a complete distraction, and this is coming from a kindred spirit. But little brother in the front definitely got the moves.

Brewfest 2009

This past Saturday we headed down to Sloss Furnace with my brother Kyle for the second annual Magic City Brewfest. They had quite the crowd this year (actually sold out of tickets for both days) since everyone was excited that the hops are now free in Alabama thanks to Governor Riley signing the bill to reform Alabama's beer laws a few weeks ago. I didn't make it last year, but apparently there was a good bit more breweries represented this year boasting new higher alcohol content beers.



My favorites beers were a chocolate brew from Olde Colony (based out of Huntsville) that didn't taste like chocolate but was awesome and Sam Adams' new blackberry brew. The latter is perfect for light summer meals and outdoor grilling.



We ran into lots of friends, some of whom either volunteered to work the event the night before or were working that day. Check out the pic in this article from the Bham News. Our friend Spencer is working the tent for Good People Brewing Company, the local brewery based in Five Points.

This new Italian restaurant in Crestline Village, Mafiaozo's, sponsored the beer glasses you get when you enter and use to sample the different beers. We were chatting with the general manager at Brewfest, and he invited us out on Tuesday night when they have buy 1 slice get 1 free pizza and half off beer. He also offered to buy our first round.

True to form we headed out there last Tuesday with Kyle and had a great time. The food was good, great atmosphere, and by the end of the evening it was completely packed out. Also, the three of us ate for $24. That's two huge slices of thin crust pizza each plus alcohol. Not a bad deal. If you go, ask for Nick.

Pink Biker Woman

I'm just going to start out by admitting that the activities I describe in this post are completely stalkerish and, no, I'm not necessarily proud of them. But I'm not ashamed either. I mean how often do you come across "Pink Biker Woman" (as I'm calling her) on your Friday evening commute home from work.

So first let me describe the setting. It's last Friday and I'm in the good ole camry driving home from a long day at the office. I'm taking the route by Ramsey High School and St. Mary's that skirts Five Points, which I sometimes take to avoid traffic and just mix life up a little. By now I'm on that road between Legacy Credit Union and J Clyde/Cobb Lane waiting to turn right onto 20th Street when Pink Biker Woman drives past me on her breast-cancer-awareness pink scooter. (I think I'm going to submit that to Crayola as a crayon color name.) I immediately smile and dig my camera from my purse. This is just too good to pass up.

As the light turns green, I'm already gaining speed to try and catch up with this woman to get a better look. I'm thinking I have a pretty good chance of passing her on the climb up Red Mountain toward Vulcan. I mean, she's just on a scooter. Surly my four-cylinder can beat that, right?

Apparently not since Pink Biker Woman is still far ahead and I'm no where close enough to get the pics I want. I for the millionth time long for my old six-cylinder camry, thinking I'm defeated, but somehow get lucky as the light at the intersection of Valley/Richard Arrington Blvd catches her and allows me to catch up. With revived hope, I logically decide to change my normal route home to get close enough to check her out further.



At this point, I'm beginning to think she's about the coolest woman in the world. I mean look at her. She's confident, independent, feminine, stylish, trendy, bold...need I go on? So let me just clarify that the stalking is primarily out of admiration than weirdness. Who could argue that this woman is not cool. She's awesome. I seriously want her to be my new best friend. But I can't tell her that from three cars behind as I sheepishly try to hide my camera just above the steering wheel while I take this pic.

Check out all those patches on her pink leather biker jacket. Her matching pink satchel bag is even secured on the back. I was trying to get a closer pic so I could read the patches but traffic wasn't cooperating, and I think she spotted me and the camera in her side view mirrors when we were stopped at the light by Dorthy Daniels Flower Market heading into downtown Homewood, so I lost a little courage, quickly took the pic below, and changed by game plan in a desperate attempt to satisfy my curiosity.



Realizing the only way I was going to get a picture of her face was to take one through my side view mirror, I snapped this beauty and avoided the fifth near collision in as many minutes. But it was completely worth it. The front side of Pink Biker Woman did not disappoint. Check out those shades, white leather gloves, and the white little girl woven bike basket on the front of her scooter! She's a fashionista.



Back at home with the help of the zoom feature on Picasa I was able to read her tag ("Prettyn" - not sure what that means but I like it) and some of the other stickers on her scooter and patches on her jacket.

Apparently she's both fully pink and fully green. Check these out.

"One Less SUV" (with a cartoon image of a woman on a pink scooter)
"100 MPG"
"Barbers Motorsports"
"Scoot Q"
"Southern Comfort" (I think - but not sure)

and about six others with images of scooters on them.

If you know this woman please tell her I think she's awesome...and maybe mention I'm not really a stalker and she made my day last Friday. I'm completely filled with admiration for her, probably because I'm not, and probably never will be, that confident and comfortable with who I am.

Which got me to thinking which of my best girlfriends would be closest to Pink Biker Woman thirty years down the road. It's J-Go. Hands down. No contest. So, Ben, when you come home from a long day at the hospital thirty years from now and see a pink scooter in the driveway don't be surprised. It's your wife's latest purchase. And she probably got it off Craigslist.

The Blackwell Beauties

Saturday we were able to head out to my cousin Kristi's house to see our nieces. It just so happened the girls had just finished up a photo shoot that afternoon for Presley's newborn pics. Big Sister Victoria was able to get in a few pics too!

Kristi's photographer, Melissa Wells, had the photos posted in a few hours, so we were able to see them. She let Kristi post some to facebook, so I posted those select few here too. As you can see, they really turned out great!






I can't believe Presley is already five weeks old. She looks so much like Victoria did at her age. Both girls just have the loveliest complexion - but so do Mom and Dad so that's no surprise.

Warning: photography becomes very amateur at this point - but I had to post this pic I took because we actually captured Presley smiling!



And yawning. She was such a cutie in her little summer sailor outfit.

Fruit of the Vine

Believe it or not, my tomato plants actually have tomatoes growing on them. This is a good sign.

Dance Off

One of the best things to come about as a result of all the rain we've been having lately...

Dance Off: USF vs. UConn 2009 Big East Baseball Tournament

As seen on PTI. The 2009 Dance off between USF and UCONN which took place at bright house field May 21st, 2009. Filmed by the staff at Bright House Field. This dance off was a result of the two teams waiting though a 5 hour rain delay. ...

100 Days and Counting…

In recognition of today marking the official countdown to college football, I’ve decided to list my predictions for the SEC here. See below for how I voted in the Bham News’ poll. If I’ve offended anyone, I’m sorry. I just call them like I see them.

My predictions in summary: Tennessee and Auburn are going to struggle, Ole Miss will be a contender, and somebody (please, anybody) better beat Tim Tebow and knock Florida off their high horse. Their time’s up. (Though I don't think it's going to happen - at least not in the East.)