Atlanta's Finest Revenge

I was so excited for JoMarie to come visit us in Atlanta...she was planning on coming down for a Red Cross training and the weekend.

We would get to spend Tues nite, Weds nite, Thurs nite, and then from Friday afternoon on through Sunday together - wahhoooo! Seriously needed girl time.

But then. Just after she arrived. Macon. Tornadoes!

As a soldier for disaster fundraising for the Red Cross, JoMarie often responds to disaster needs from the DC office.

When the tornadoes hit central Georgia it just so happened that she was a mere 100 miles away...so she got assigned to go there to support on the ground fundraising instead of to the training.

SO, Wednesday morning she headed out and didn't come back till the wee hours of the morning on Friday.

BOOOOO!

The good news is she got to go with us to CANINE CAPERS Tuesday night to get to see Tilley in action (see video for a sneak peek!).

Then she was gone. Snif.

On Saturday, we headed into the gritty city to Piedmont Park for Atlanta's Finest 5k. Put on by our clients the Atlanta Police Foundation and sponsored by longtime clients Boardwalk Consulting, Northridge sent a contingent of racers and volunteers.

Among us were me and JoMarie, Tilley (up for anything, always), and my coworker Holly who was doing her first 5k with us. Tilley's race was first. She was actually registered as Tilley Hodgeski as a 2 year old (no where on the form did it say "check here to confirm you are a human", so what the hell).

We got her checked in and we all got race numbers in order :). JoMarie ran with me and Tilley, and Holly's son Connor did the 5k as well.

Tilley and Connor both went out fast, and Connor walked a little so JoMarie and I stuck with him either just ahead or in back to make sure he was cool.

As we rounded the final turn Tilley said "all bets are off!" and I dropped her leash and let her finish on her own. She was given a finisher's ribbon and an Atlanta Police badge by a very nice volunteer whom she showered with kisses "thanks for the ribbon, lady!".

Then it was our turn. We left Tilley and Connor with Amy and the rest of the Northridge crew and headed out, running, then walking, and alternating throughout the course. Holly kept a great pace and my knee was mostly ok until the last mile - and then it hurt like a mofo. Sigh. Not that I expected less but oh well. We finished in fine form and then hung out for a while in the sunshine and I did a little work with Tilley on obedience.

On the way out, we asked the po-lice if we could get a pic near their bike and, because of course he did, he offered for JoMarie and I to git on it :). When a cop asks if you want to sit on his bike? You say YES.

We headed back north with a very sleepy Connor and Tilley in the back seat. We rallied with John and headed out for lunch then the girls - all of the girls - including Laika, Tilley, and Erah, went shopping for canine couture and spent way too much time...and money, but had a great time. JoMarie was still wiped from work and having all of 3h of sleep...so I kept plying her with caffeine all day, which worked well through a fabulous dinner at Rice Thai in Roswell and into TV and girl time that night. We also had a few secret missions related to a certain upcoming wedding that will remain unpublished at this time ;).

On Sunday we headed out on an adventure for shoes which was unfruitful...but Tilley made LOTS of friends. We clinched the night with a little takeout from Mr. Taco and yes - more Sex and the City in preparation for the movie release next week. Monday after a quick stop at the office, JoMarie and Erah were on their way back to DC. WAHH!

We had a GREAT time even though our visit was shorter than originally expected. I was glad she was able to support the fine folks in Macon and to do her duty for the Red Cross. But it was a disappointment.

SO, to make sure it doesn't happen on a future visit, I hired her to work for us as our on the ground nonprofit gal in DC.

SNAP! Nobody puts Baby in a corner!!

:D

Video of Tilley moving from the tunnel to the a-frame then over the jump:

Long Time, No Hear

So it's been a quiet few weeks for you readers. The focus of my time seems to have shifted abruptly from training to work...partly due to injury, partly due to necessity and timing.

I've spent the past few weeks doing some isometric exercises and the prognosis is marginal. I didn't try it last weekend but the weekend prior (after a whole week and a half off) I tried a little :10 elliptical then a little treadmill. I was elated that the latter was going well, until about 8 minutes in when I felt the knee twinge. I stopped at :10 (my intent) but was bummed that it didn't go longer. I spent the rest of the afternoon doing ab work and swimming...then immersed myself in work...and travel for work.

I headed down to New Orleans for the Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) conference. I was excited to be going for several reasons. The first, admittedly, was for the chance to network and get some good exposure for Northridge. I'd gotten onto a panel of a friend and former client, Mark at Sea Change on fundraising usability, and was excited for that as well as the general high school reunion feel the conference promised. I had the chance to connect with all kinds of dear old friends and former coworkers, clients, and partners.

Finally, I was excited because Dad was riding with me as my stowaway, and we always have grand adventures. While it's tempting to go through the highlights of the conference and our road trip, I think the best way to summarize it is a la a race report...by the numbers.

- Number of travel partners: 1 (Grandy! My Dad is a watercolor artist and is always out to get some inspiring shots for his subjects, and snapped up my "free spare bed and ride down" offer in a heartbeat)
- Number of miles driven: 978 (not counting the 20 mile side trip to Bayou LaBatre nor the miles Dad drove during the day to shoot photos)
- Number of miles walked downtown to dinners at night and shopping: 978 (ok, not really)
- Number of people attending our fundraising usability session: About 75, not bad!
- Number of former coworkers I ran into: 9 (Niemi, Cohen, Leta, Voelker, Stines, Ferraro, Herron, Labieniec, Cervino)
- Number of longtime clients and friends met in person for first time: 1 (Jed Miller!)
- Number of fans of this blog talked to: 1 (Peter at Convio)
- Times I got to run or swim: 0
- Number of hours I was awake Wednesday between the drive down, the meeting en route, and staying up late to compile the group's presentation: 20.5
- Number of flat tires: 1 (poor Grandy, on his first morning excursion)
- Number of times Grandy used the phrase regarding Crayfish "suck the head" then giggled: 14
- Number of great meals had: 3 (dinner at La Marigny Brasserie with Liz and Bridget from RedEngine Digital (one of our partners), dinner at Amelie with Liz and Dad, brunch at the Court of Two Sisters with Dad and Kristin)
- Number of "bonus attendees" at the evening reception both days at the conference: 1 (Grandy, duh, free food!)
- Number of near panic attacks: 2 (bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, whee for me!)
- Number of feet high the waves were on said lake on the way into town: 3.5, with whitecaps
- Number of tall bridges I surprised myself by driving over: 2 (somewhere in Alabama)
- Miles per hour the wind was blowing as we drove from Mobile towards NOLA: 40
- Times I was glad I wasn't on a plane in that shit: 40
- Times I wished that drive was over: 40
- Number of feather boas purchased: 1 (for Laika)
- Number of stuffed Armadillos purchased: 1 (for Tilley)
- Number of masks purchased collectively: 5 (mine plus all the grandkids)
- Number of shrimp boats in Bayou LaBatre: countless
- Number in trees, as was the case post Katrina: 0 that we saw
- Number or random trinkets for desk acquired: 4 (snow globe for the line-up, piece of driftwood and 2 oyster shells from Bayou LaBatre)
- Number of times I was glad that Grandy is my Grandy: 94
- Number of times I missed John: 24
- Number of times I missed the girls and thought how much they would enjoy the myriad of smells along the streets of the French Quarter: 11
- Number of times I was *so* proud to be representing Northridge and no one else: 147