So you say you live in AT-laaaaaaan-tah?

Just had to post this for all my readers in and out side of Atlanta.

This is for anyone who lives in Atlanta , Georgia , has ever lived in Atlanta , has ever visited Atlanta , ever plans to visit Atlanta , knows anyone who already lives in Atlanta , or knows anyone who has ever heard of Atlanta .

Atlanta is composed mostly of one-way streets. The only way to get out of downtown Atlanta is to turn around and start over when you reach Greenville , South Carolina.

All directions start with, 'Go down Peachtree' and include the phrase, 'When you see the Waffle House.' Except that in Cobb County , where all directions begin with, 'Go to the Big Chicken.'

Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to be confused with:
Peachtree Circle
Peachtree Place
Peachtree Lane
Peachtree Road
Peachtree Parkway
Peachtree Run
Peachtree Terrace
Peachtree Avenue
Peachtree Commons
Peachtree Battle
Peachtree Corners
New Peachtree
Old Peachtree
West Peachtree
Peachtree-Dunwoody
Peachtree-Chamblee
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard

Atlantans only know their way to work and their way home. If you ask anyone for directions, they will always send you down Peachtree.

Atlanta is the home of Coca-Cola. Coke is all they drink there so don't ask for any other soft drink unless it's made by Coca-Cola.. Even if you want something other than a Coca-Cola, it's still called Coke.

The gates at Atlanta 's Hartsfield International Airport are about 32 miles away from the Main Concourse, so wear sneakers and pack a lunch.

The 8 am rush hour is from 6:30 to 10:30 AM.

The 5 pm rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:30 PM.

Friday's rush hour starts Thursday afternoon and lasts through 2 am Saturday.

Only a native of Atlanta can pronounce Ponce De Leon Avenue , so do not attempt the Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their heads to the right and stare at you. The Atlanta pronunciation is 'pawntz duh LEE-awn.'

And yes, they have a street named simply, 'Boulevard.'

The falling of one raindrop causes all drivers to immediately forget all traffic rules. If a single snowflake falls, the city is paralyzed for three days and it's on all the channels as a news flash every 15 minutes for a week. Overnight, all grocery stores will be sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer.

I-285, the loop that encircles Atlanta, which has a posted speed limit of 55 mph (but you have to maintain 80 mph just to keep from getting run over), is known to truckers as 'The Watermelon 500.'

Don't believe the directional markers on highways: I-285 is marked East and West but you may be going North or South. The locals identify the direction by referring to the 'Inner Loop' and the 'Outer Loop .'

If you travel on Hwy 92 North, you will actually be going southeast.

Never buy a ladder or mattress in Atlanta . Just go to one of the interstates and you will soon find one in the middle of the road.

The last thing you want to do is give another driver the finger, unless your car is armored, your trigger finger is itchy and your AK-47 has a full clip. Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.

There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Georgia .

There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Georgia , plus a couple no one has seen before.

If it grows, it sticks.

If it crawls, it bites.

If you notice a vine trying to wrap itself around your leg, you have about 20 seconds to escape, before you are completely captured and covered with Kudzu, another ill-advised 'import,' like the Carp, Starling, English Sparrow, and other 'exotic wonders'.

It's not a shopping cart, it's a buggy.

'Fixinto' is one word (I'm fixinto go to the store).

Sweet Tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're 2 years old.

'Jeet?' is actually a phrase meaning 'Did you eat?'

'Momma-nem' means: How's Mother and all of the other children and other members of the family doing.



Lordy, I love ATLANTA !

Cholula Original Seasoning

In my chili recipe below, I mention the use of Cholula Seasoning. Please note that I am not meaning the Cholula hot sauce. The hot sauce is phenomenal but it's not the flavor you're looking for in the chili. Definitely invest in a bottle of this stuff....it's amazing on everything.

L.

The Most Amazing Chili Ever!

I created what I believe is the most amazing chili ever. It topped any pot of chili I've ever made and I have decided that you are all worthy of the recipe. :-)

Laura's Amazingly Easy Chili

2 lbs ground chuck
1 large onion, diced
1 Tbs kosher salt
1 Tbs chili powder
1 Tbs Cholula Seasoning - Original
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp garlic powder

2 packets McCormick Chili Seasoning

2 cans Del Monte diced tomatoes - Zesty Chili Style
1 box Pomi strained tomatoes
1 can Luck's beans - Pintos and Northern Beans

In a large Dutch Oven, brown ground beef with the onion, salt, chili powder, Cholula, cumin and garlic powder. Once completely browned, drain the meat well and return to the pot. Add the two packets of chili seasoning and stir until completely mixed into the meat. Add the diced tomatoes and the strained tomatoes and the beans. Stir until well combined. Simmer on medium-low about 30 minutes and enjoy!



Now that we're getting into cold weather season, I believe I'll be making this alot. I will say that the seasoned diced tomatoes really were the ticket to this quick chili tasting like it had been simmering for hours.

I believe -

This is the blessing I claim today -

Romans 8: 38-39 (NLT)
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My heart was set free by these verses today. My fears were calmed by these verses. My eyes were turned to Him by these verses.

It's been 10 days?

Many times over the last week and a half I've clicked on the link to my blog...figuring I should write something...then I stare at the empty box and can't figure out anything worthwhile to write about.

Today I figured I would write just to let the few people who read my blog know that I am alive and kicking albeit not too wildly right now.

Mom's getting better - we had another trip to the ER with her last week while I was home....she tried doing too much and...well, you know how that goes. I had a great weekend with my brother and sister-in-law at a cabin in the mountains. Mom and Dad came back up and joined us after Mom rested up some. It was nice to be away.

I have yet ANOTHER frippin' frappin' test to do for the ob-gyn in a couple of weeks. I'm not happy about it and it's caused a whole other level of anxiety for me, but I'm trying to keep pushing it to the back of my mind. Let's just say that it's one they typically do for people who they think may have the BIG C. And I don't mean Colitis or Colic or Cerebral or Congestive....I mean the C word that no one wants to talk about. (See me leaning forward and looking around to see if anyone's watching and putting my hand over my mouth and whispering really low....) I mean cancer. *WHUMP*









Wha...where am I....on yea, that cancer thing....sorry, I feel off my chair. I really don't feel like that's the problem, but you never know. Like I said, we'll know more in a few weeks.

Anyway...just wanted ya'll to know I'm alive...and kinda kicking....and just jumping the waves of life as they come at me.

L.

Coming up for air.....

I have to just say that my husband is the coolest possible person in the world. I love him and he's just too darned awesome for words. Check out his blog post....The Shooter Chronicles.

I'm exhausted and can hardly hold up my head, but I'm at work. I can't afford to not be at work with the economy the way it is.

I'm worried about my Mom, my Dad, my job, my family and tons of other things. Good thing they make meds for that.