The Scotty Open

Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking the afternoon off from work to play in the second annual "Scotty Open". This golf tournament is used as a fund-raiser for the Wake Forest University Cardiac Rehab program. I spent two years working with this group as a graduate student at Wake and was flattered when they asked me to come back and participate in the tournament.

The name of tournament is in honor of Littleton Scott a former patient in the rehab program and avid golfer. Scotty was one of the original patients when the program started in 1972, which was one of the first of its kind in the entire country. Scotty had been a faithful participant, believer, and supporter of the program for over 30 years before his death in 2005. So, to honor Scotty and support the program, we have established the Scotty Open.

Despite blustery overcast conditions with wind gusts near 40 mph and misty rain, all groups were able to get in a full 18 holes. The winning foursome shot an impressive -13, while our group posted a respectable +9, but I guarantee we probably laughed more and hit into more bunkers than them. All in all, it was a good chance to dust of my clubs, especially for a good cause.

Photography

One of my friends, Becky, from my youth soccer/Appalachian days, introduced me to the awesome Blue Bucket Photography blog. Amy, of BBP, is a friend of Becky's who just so happens to be an amazing photographer and started her own business a few months ago. Now... if you know me you know I love love love to take pictures. Photography is a hobby that I inherited from my dad. I can only wish that one day I would have 1/2 the talent Amy has.

Anywho... back on track. Amy decided to start a project called BELIEVE-Portraits of Women.
Here is the goal of the project:
Empower you, the women around me, to see yourself from a new angle. To enjoy what others love seeing in you—grace, love, humility, confidence, talent, sincerity, fierceness, loyalty, laughter and joy. The fact of the matter is that we are bombarded all the time with images that tell us how we should define beauty, and I have had a lifetime of wrestling with how I fit within these definitions of beauty. This project is all about empowering women to believe in their own beauty.

This is one of the best projects I've come across. What an awesome goal! All the girls look amazing in the pictures and truly capture the essence of this project. It's really neat since I know two of the girls that have/will be apart of this project, Tara and Becky. Can't wait to see your pictures, Becky! I know your natural beauty and soul will shine through.

Keep on rockin' girls...

Oh and Amy is for hire if anyone is looking for an amazing, talented photographer!

Now, go check out the amazing pictures I've been talking about!

Happy Birthday Betty Ruth!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear Mom!

Happy Birthday to you!!!

Today is my mom's birthday! She is an amazing woman and we all love her dearly. Over the weekend, we threw her a birthday party in my backyard. Brian maned the grill and boy.. was it good! Turkey burgers, turkey dogs, corn on the cob, fruit salad, broccoli salad and ice cream cake. We invited my brother and his girlfriend, my grandmother and grandfather and my parents best friends/neighbors. We all had a lovely time. I decided to do a "birdhouse" theme since my mom LOVES birdhouses. Brian made her a birdhouse that looks liked their actual house. She almost cried when he gave it to her. We also painted small birdhouses for each guest to take home as a favor. Tonight we are cooking her dinner while my dad is away at the beach. Hope you have a great birthday, mama P! Love you!

The entrance to my backyard

The table

The napkin rings I made

Everyone at the table

Brian

Zach and Taylor

Dot and Bill

Mom and Dad

O'Malley was hungry - surprise surprise.

The boys weren't left out

Another shot of the group

Partying makes Deacon sleepy

O'Malley passed out on Nan's lap

Southern Football

We found this and it was too good not to post.

WOMEN'S ACCESSORIES:

NORTH: Chap Stick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket

SOUTH: Louis Vuitton (or Vera Bradley) duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and a fifth of bourbon. Money not necessary - that's what dates are for.

STADIUM SIZE:

NORTH: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people.

SOUTH: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.

FATHERS:

NORTH: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath.

SOUTH: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.

CAMPUS DECOR:

NORTH: Statues of founding fathers.

SOUTH: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.

HOMECOMING QUEEN:

NORTH: Also a physics major.

SOUTH: Also Miss America.

HEROES:

NORTH: Rudy Giuliani

SOUTH: Archie & Peyton Manning

GETTING TICKETS:

NORTH: 5 days before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus.

SOUTH: 5 months before the game you walk into the ticket office on campus, make a large financial contribution and put name on a waiting list for tickets.

FRIDAY CLASSES AFTER A THURSDAY GAME:

NORTH: Students and teachers not sure they're going to the game, because they have classes on Friday.

SOUTH: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don't want to see the few hung over students that might actually make it to class.

PARKING:

NORTH: An hour before game time, the University opens the campus for game parking.

SOUTH: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.

GAME DAY:

NORTH: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV.

SOUTH: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting 'Game Day Live' to get on camera and wave to the idiots up north who wonder why 'Game Day Live' is never Broadcast from their campus.

TAILGATING:

NORTH: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio station with truck tailgate down.

SOUTH: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking accompanied by live performance from the Dave Matthews Band,...who come over during breaks and ask for a hit off bottle of bourbon.

GETTING TO THE STADIUM:

NORTH: You ask 'Where's the stadium?' When you find it, you walk right in.

SOUTH: When you're near it, you'll hear it. On game day it is the state's third largest city.

CONCESSIONS:

NORTH: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda.

SOUTH: Drinks served in a plastic cup, with the home team's mascot on it, filled less than half way with soda, to ensure enough room for bourbon.

WHEN NATIONAL ANTHEM IS PLAYED:

NORTH : Stands are less than half full, and less than half of them stand up.

SOUTH: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.

THE SMELL IN THE AIR AFTER THE FIRST SCORE:

NORTH: Nothing changes.

SOUTH: Fireworks, Gunpowder (from the cannon in the end zone), with a touch of bourbon.

COMMENTARY: (MALE)

NORTH: 'Nice play.'

SOUTH: 'Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs.'

COMMENTARY: (FEMALE)

NORTH: 'My, this certainly is a violent sport.'

SOUTH: 'Dammit, you slow sumbitch - tackle him and break his legs.'

ANNOUNCERS:

NORTH: Neutral and paid.

SOUTH: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.

AFTER THE GAME:

NORTH: The stadium is empty way before the game ends.

SOUTH: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker, while somebody goes to the nearest package store for more bourbon, and planning begins for next week's game. Nothing else in the universe comes even halfway close to the glories of Southern football!

Dawn's Bridal Shower

This weekend was Dawn's bridal shower hosted at the lovely house of Barbara - matron of honor. Tracie and ReBecca (2 of the bridesmaids) came into town Friday night and all the girls decided to meet at Big Shotz for dinner. It was great seeing everyone and having a girls night out.

ReBecca, Dawn and Barbara Tracie, Barbara and I

All the girls

The bridal shower got underway around 2pm on Saturday. Barbara has one of the most beautiful houses in Winston and was very generous in hosting the shower. The theme of the shower was "ABC's" so each guest was a assigned a different letter and brought a gift that corresponded with their letter. Dawn received so many creative gifts. It was a lot of fun. Co-workers, family and friends alike attended and everyone had a great time. Below are just a few of the many pictures I took from the shower.

Dawn and Barbara

All the gifts

Attempt #1 at the corsage

Attempt #2 at the corsage

The frog!

Kissing the frog.

Dawn opening gifts

The yummy cake - compliments of Chris's mom

The table

The favors - Alphabet cookies!

More cute cookies

The beautiful flower arrangementTracie and I Her bouquet for the rehearsal

Thanks for hosting such a wonderful shower, Barbara! Can't wait for the wedding, Dawn!

Fall

Our favorite season has finally arrived! We love the cooler temperatures. Bring on the sweatshirts and football games. Hopefully we will get a chance to make it to Boone, NC to see the leaves. I've been wanting to take Brian there all year.
How could one not love Fall? Just look at this picture. Pure Beauty!

Biggest Loser!

That's right folks... my favorite reality show is back on! It's tradition that my parents and I watch this show together every Tuesday night at 8pm est. So Tuesday night after dinner, Brian and I headed to my parents house for the two hour season premiere! This season (Season 6) is The Biggest Loser: Families and I have a feeling it will not disappoint. It's hard to follow up after a season where you had contestants like Betty Sue (go Pink! Team) and when a girl, Ali (Betty Sue's daughter), became the first female winner. But nevertheless, I am excited.

Poor Brian doesn't know what he has gotten himself into when agreeing to watch it with me. I get pretty intense about this show. It forces me to motivate myself and get the ball rolling. During the commercials, I do push ups and sit ups. Tuesday night I managed to do 100 push ups and so many sit ups that I lost count. My parents are thankful Brain is around this season so they don't have to do the exercises with me. This show also inspires me to eat healthier and trust me, I need that inspiration. I LOVE to eat, I can't help it!

Jillian Michaels is all business. If I was on the show, I would want her as my trainer. She scares the living crap out of me. She doesn't take crap and/or excuses from anyone. That's what I'm talking about! Bob is cute but I would need someone that would yell at me when I was falling behind.

So my friends, expect updates as the season progresses. In the meantime, I will be pulling for the Yellow Team this season, Jerry and his daughter Coleen!

Mr. and Mrs. Goodale

This past weekend one of my bestest friends, Jennifer, got married! I left Winston Wednesday night to drive to Cary to stay with my bestest, Colleen. Colleen and Keith took me out to dinner for Mexican and then we rented a girly movie (sorry Keith!) and called it a night. Colleen and I woke up Thursday morning and after a few bumps in the road, we were on our way to Alexandria, VA for Jennifer's bridal shower/bachelorette party. We arrived in Quanitco and checked in the hotel and quickly got ready for the shower/party. We headed out down I-95 to Alexandria and made it just a few minutes late... thanks to traffic on base. The shower was held at the wonderful Landini Brothers Restaurant. Jennifer looked beautiful and it was nice to meet her friends from DC.

The bride to be - Jennifer Ryu Goodale

Jen Gaj, Jennifer and Jessica

Jen Gaj, Colleen and I

Best friends since High School

All the Ryu girls

After the shower, the "young" girls headed across to the street to O'Connell Irish Bar to get the bachelorette party started. We ended up staying there to whole night and everyone had a great time. It was great to spend time with all the girls.

The girls

We ran into this guy and thought his shirt was funny

At O'Connell

Friday consisted of sleeping in, doing last minute wedding stuff, Manicures and pedicures and then the rehearsal dinner. Jennifer and Jason held their rehearsal at the National Marine Corp Museum in Quantico, VA. Considering they are both captains in the Marines, it was the perfect place. We had the whole place to ourselves and it couldn't have been more beautiful.

National Marine Corps Museum

Inside - Decorated beautifully

Table #2 - The best table ;-)

The Bride and Groom to be - Jennifer and JasonMy bestest and IThe boys couldn't make it so we took a picture of their place card insteadCindi and Rick Goodale hosted the perfect rehearsal dinner. Afterwards, it was time to crash for the night. Saturday morning we woke up early and met everyone for hair and make-up. We spent over 5 hours at the salon but everyone looked so beautiful and our hair was great! Brian rode up on Saturday morning with my family and arrived around 2pm in Quantico. I didn't get to see him until after the wedding, as we were rushing around until wedding time. The wedding was a full military wedding and it was so neat to be a part of it. Everything turned out perfect and I couldn't be more happy for Jennifer and Jason. After the wedding, the reception was held the ballroom on base and it was amazing. Everyone had a great time and at the end of the night, it was time to head the hay.

Jennifer and Juliette being funnyJen's gorgeous ringAll the girlsSword Arch

Colleen, Jen and I at the reception

Brian and I

Colleen and Keith

Taylor and Zach

Jessica and Sean

The Sullivans and Keith

The 4 of us

Typical...

No words...
We approve!

Jennifer and Jason... hope you guys have a wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii! I wish you nothing but the best! Thank you for having me in your wedding, I was honored. Love you dearly.