That's a steal...

I am the first to admit that I am bargain hunter... of that I am not ashamed.  I have come from a long line of bargain hunters so for me searching on the sale rack is habit... and looking at full price items is just weird.  I am used to finding good deals... but today exceeded even my own expectations.  I was shopping for a present at Dillard's when I came across a set of 3 silver platters (small, medium, large... see picture below).  Regular price... $59.  When I was checking out... it didn't ring up... so the woman typed in the ISBN #... the price that came up $5.90 (that's right 10% of the original price).  She didn't believe it either... so she went and got the hand scanner used to price merchandise... the price agaib $5.90.  So needless to say I bought all the sets they had... sadly there were only two.  The icing on the cake came however when I went to another store (Macy's)... and found the exact same set of platters.  Their price... $120.... that's right they were charging 24 times what I paid.  That is a GREAT deal... even for me.

08.08.08

8.8.08... If you have seen NBC recently, you know what I am talking about... the Beijing Olympics begin on 8.8.08.  For those of you who know me, you know that the Olympics are one of my absolute favorite things in the whole world.

There are many reason why I feel so strongly about the games... the most important one... it brings our country together.  For those two weeks, we are not Republican or Democrat, East Coast or West Coast, big city or small town.  We are all simply Americans... united in the name of sport... in a spirit of patriotism.  We watch each event with eager anticipation, and when we hear our anthem played, we swell with pride.

The Olympics are a special time for Americans.  You see, we don't have a national sport like many European countries.  There is no singular sporting event that draws Americans together as strongly and swiftly as the Games.

This weekend, I got my first taste of Beijing.  I was glued to the television for the Olympic trials.  And even though there were only Americans competing... I found myself brimming over with excitement of what will begin 8.8.08

To catch a serial killer...

On my way home from running more errands today, I was again reminded just how close I might have been to a serial killer...

You see, confessed murderer (and probable serial killer) Gary Hilton was apprehended at a gas station mere minutes from my home.

In case you don't know the story... here is a brief version.

All week we had been covering the disappearance of a local hiker.  She was a recent UGA grad, who had taken her puppy out for a hike.  The whole thing was odd, and somewhat surreal.  We had been at UGA at the same time, who knows, maybe I had a lecture class with her or sat on the bus next to her.  As more people talked about her, I was even a little sad we hadn't officially met.  She seemed like a really fun and great girl.

As sad as that was, I was in no way prepared for what was about to happen...

I don't think I will ever forget the night they found him.  I was at work, praying the night would go by quickly so I could get to the weekend.  Then all of a sudden on the scanner, I heard police talking about a place I know well, just down the street from my house.  So, I was immediately drawn in... I don't usually hear too many calls in my family friendly neighborhood.  I moved some people, still not thinking too much of the whole thing.  And the rest, is still a whirlwind.  It was him at that gas station, we later found out he frequented the area... he confessed to killing the hiker, and now he is in jail accused of another murder in FL.

In the end, it is crazy to me that I could have run into either the victim or the killer on so many different occasions.  And, it makes me wonder if/when I actually did.  I would never have guessed when I went to that gas station... or walked around campus that I might see someone who I would never officially meet... but who would profoundly impact my life.

So each and everyday keep your eyes out... because you never know who you might run into at the grocery store.

A good Saturday... I mean Monday

Today is the start of my weekend...Monday = Saturday... It's no fun when all your friends are hanging out on Saturdays, and you are at work... on the other hand, running errands is much much faster... it's just me and the soccer moms at the store. 

This random weekend thing is something that I have been forced to embrace.  It comes with the territory, I guess.  As my mom says... "You guys are like the hospital... someone is there 24/7."  I think it's more like Waffle House... we aren't serious enough to be doctors and nurses.  Someone is always there to answer our phone... 3am on Christmas, someone will be there.   

I have had weekends on Monday and Tuesday... then Sunday and Monday... and even for a while my weekend was actually the weekend, Saturday and Sunday.  When I had a normal weekend, I definitely got spoiled!

Through it all, I have learned how to make the most of the time I have off.  I try to savor the time I have with friends and family, because it's not as easy as just meeting up on the "weekend."

As for my Saturday, I say it was successful... I ran my errands... got to watch "Jon and Kate + 8" (more on that in a later post)... my Dawgs won... and I even got to eat some ice cream.  

Why the blog?

Well, I have thought about it for a long time, and I am finally giving in to the pressure.  Not that I feel I have too many exciting things to say.. but I figured what the heck, I might was well try it.

So I will use this blog to post some of the interesting... and not so interesting stuff in my life.  I might even throw in some of the crazy stuff that happens at my work...

Enjoy... and seize the day... because we are not promised tomorrow!