Weekend in Mildlanta (formerly HOTlanta).

How did it already get to be the point in December where I am buying gifts online and slightly worried they might not make it here on time before I head home for the holidays? Where did December go!? Today marks the 3rd Sunday in Advent. The pink candle. My favorite. So here we are...2 weeks before Christmas Day and I've only purchased 4 gifts. Still two more to go. Time is not on my side. Not one bit.

I've just returned back from a 3 night, 4 day trip to Atlanta (where the weather was surprisingly mild and not as cold as I anticipated) for a conference where I presented with a coworker on all the work we put into a course we created on inclusion for the new student staff members. We rock. Humility? My specialty. It was a great weekend because not only did it include professional development and a conference presentation but I also got to see three of my favorites: Will, Mark, and Daphne.

Highlights from the weekend included...

• The amazing king size bed and rock my world water pressure at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. What? I like nice things...

• Our well attended and uber successful presentation Thursday afternoon.

• Catching up with Will Thursday evening. I miss Blue, 1916, and our three years of good times and great oldies post college.

• Dinner at Noche with Mark Friday night. Amazing tapas and a bottle of red are a quick way to win my heart.

• My first (but hopefully not my last) visit to Farm Burger in Decatur.
  

• My first cup of Keurig coffee and a scrumptious breakfast this morning including eggs, blueberries, and pecan pancakes.

• Getting to just sit around and do nothing with Daph for 30 hours.
  

The un-highlight from the weekend? Seeing New Year's Eve which cost $10.25, was not nearly as good as Valentine's Day (which wasn't even really that good), and didn't even show great previews beforehand.

But all in all, a wonderful trip/conference/friend visit. The mini-escape I needed to help get me through the next two weeks!

Cheers.