Coldplay Atlanta Style

   The Husband is a concert addict. One of his true confessions is that he secretly dreamed of becoming a rock star when he was young. He became a banker instead.
    As you might well imagine, the dichotomy between the two worlds is immense. So in his spare time, The Husband sheds his three piece suits and heads to his favorite rock concerts. Fortunately we live in a place that calls itself Music City, so we have plenty of opportunities for him to fulfill his dreams, but when the need arises, he is not averse to driving out of town for a concert. Sometimes I make the trip with him -- especially when he will agree to stay in at least a four-star hotel and combine the concert with a side jaunt to Ikea, but if he wants to make a quick trip in the middle of the week, that's fine with me. At this stage in my life, I don't really relish staying in the Red Roof Inn.
   So this past week, he drove down to Atlanta to see one of his favorite bands, Coldplay. I think this is the third time he has seen them play. I have seen them once. It was great. I didn't feel the need to go again. However, he got so many fabulous pictures that I just had to share. Here are some of his faves.

Being a banker, on principle alone The Husband refuses to pay full price for tickets (another reason I sometimes hesitate to go with him). He is on a first name basis with the ticket "brokers" in Nashville. In Atlanta he sat next to people who had paid $600 for a pair of tickets to see Coldplay. I don't want to tell you what he paid for his ticket. Let's just say he was very very happy. And the seat was great...but that's another story.

Land That I Love

From the mountains

To the prairies

To the oceans white with foam

God Bless America

My home sweet home

Stand beside her and guide her
through the night with the Light from above




God Bless America
My home sweet home

Thanks Kate

I, for one, am glad that modesty has made a significant comeback in the world of Bridal Couture. 

Thanks to Kate Middleton for bringing back a resurgence of interest in sleeves, 

higher bodices and dresses that accentuate the waist. These dresses showcase bustlines,  waistlines, and hips in ways that bespeak of mystery rather than revealing too much skin!

Case in point:

In case you don't know...that's Grace Kelley on the left
and Kate Middleton on the right!

See what I mean about some of the lovely offerings available to brides:

Photo by LisaLefkowitz.net

Here designer Reem Acra uses a sheer lace bodice to add a delicate touch to this dress

Romona Keveza's dress from the Legend's Collection

Priscilla of Boston offers a classic full skirted gown in a 

timeless silhouette with lovely sheer sleeves

Monique Lulliler made lace and the corset her trademark...here she uses both to great advantage

Designed by Theia

A Francesca Miranda Design

Designed by Pronovias

This lovely is from Lela Rose

And this one is from Alfred Angelo

Truth of the matter is that there are lots of gorgeous gowns for brides who want to combine
 loveliness with a sense of mystery on their special day

Source: wedding-charlotte.com via kazukotnewman on Pinterest

Source: behance.vo.llnwd.net via Danielle on Pinterest

Source: alwaysgolden.tumblr.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Half on Pinterest

Source: hertfordshire-wedding.com via phyllismhamlin on Pinterest

Source: weddingdresses1.tk via Tami on Pinterest

Released! Total Knee Replacement Update

   I am skipping. Okay, my legs aren't skipping, but my head and heart are. I finished up my physical therapy regimen at Southern Joint Replacement Institute, met with my surgeon, Dr. Hodrick, and passed with flying colors. He didn't tell me that exactly. But I told myself that. Yippee. Hooray. Now I just have two pages of exercises that I need to do at least three times per week on my own. And believe it or not, I have already started! Woo Hoo!

   I want to give a shout out to the wonderful therapists at SJRI -- Che Che, in particular. She helped me so much. She is the one who got me through my first two days of therapy when I cried like a baby on one of them. Che Che also massaged the softball sized knot on the back of my knee after I fell in week two. I thought I was going to die then, but, alas, I somehow survived. Che is just the right mix of encouraging and firm. She is a good motivator and gives explicit directions. I also learned from watching her work on other people with IT Band issues that you certainly want to follow ALL of your physical therapist's directions. No going out on a limb. You cannot walk too early or too much, you cannot run, you cannot kick on a paddle board in the swimming pool and you cannot do water aerobics or work out with weights...YET. That is the operative word. Everything has to get stronger. Everything has to work together in tandem. You cannot strengthen just one set of muscles. You have to help them all get stronger.

   This next phase of my recovery should be interesting. I have bona fide jello legs. Not pretty at any age. I have not had any operative quad muscles thanks to those bad knees for soooo long. I wear a lot of pants and long skirts. I no longer wear shorts and avoid bathing suits as much as possible these days. I don't know if I will ever really get over my jello legs that quiver and quake whenever I move, but I am so very thankful for a knee that DOES NOT HURT. It is the best. Honestly, the first two weeks were really hard. Lots of pain. Lots of frustration. Lots of nasty pain meds. But I am beginning to reap the rewards now.
    And by the way, I have 0 degree flexion and 129 extension. I had 10 degrees flexion before surgery and 108 extension...so I have already come a long way.
     So it's hi ho, hi ho, off to the "Y" I go!

Some Sunday Fun with Little Two

   Little Two and her parents came to play one Sunday. I had just bought the Fisher Price fire engine at a garage sale across the street from our house. It was a big hit.

Little Two liked pushing it as much as she liked riding in it. In fact, she nearly worked herself into a frenzy. When we finally took a little break she was red-faced and perspiring like crazy, but laughing out loud with glee!

 Little Two's Daddy had almost as much fun as she did. Of course, he wasn't content to let her push the fire engine around the driveway. He just had to up the ante. I nearly had a heart attack. It reminded me of my own mother. In the future I will try to refrain from acting concerned when they fly down the driveway at breakneck speeds. I thought I was over all of that with grown children. Apparently some things never change.