HEARTC♡RE: Atlanta

Bloggo de Mayo

Atlanta Thursday, May 01, 2025

I decided . . . . . . . a post a day for the month of Mayo. Very ambitious but maybe I write an essay or maybe I just say hi.

Let's talk about my traffic ticket. Back in mid-March, I was on my way to the office and decided to take a little detour to grab a coffee 🤓. Well, unfortunately for me, there was a Sheriff behind me, as soon as the light turns green HIS lights came on and I'm like ?? the fuck. Thankfully he didn't turn on the siren because that would've just been SOooO EmbARRASinG. I pull into a parking lot and he tells me he pulled me over due to an expired tag. I truly entered the twilight zone, because officer you must be mistaken - I most definitely have everything in order. So I tell him (yeah I'm shaking in my boots LOL), "officer, I totALLy believe your system but there's NOOO way - may I check?" and bless him, he lets me shakily ruffle through my paperwork (he knows damn well my tags expired) and he's like "no need to be nervous" - I shoot him a stare (no I don't) and keep ruffling. Anyways, he spots my insurance and he's like at least you have insurance (yes officer I'm not some riff raff) and he's like let me get your license. He comes back a short time later - gives me my citation💀 and calls me Miss Ortiz (this has been happening to me since middle school). Y'all I am SICK about this. . . I can't remember if I actually pass by for my coffee at this point or drive back in silence. But I am SICK because ironically, Yuri and I had a conversation about expired tags AND AND I had just taken my moms car for an emissions test and renewed like 3 vehicles/trailers at the tag Kiosk at Kroger.... so that's what sucked that it was NOT intentional. But this is the rollercoaster we call life you know. The officer told me if I got my tag renewed within 10 days the judge may be nice to me, regardless I did it the same day because I really had no business breaking the law.

In the days before my surgery I went up to the court to ask about resolving my ticket - it had been like 13 business days and they still hadn't loaded me into the system.... so I decided to just wait until my court date which was today. I'm the first in line 🫡 and one of the staff grabs my paperwork and places it on the docket. I'm hoping I am up first because your girl needs to get to work and really, I am just not trying to be there till 10am. So while I am sitting in the pews I am practicing how I am going to deliver my plea for a lighter *sentence*, and thinking about how I have to refer to someone as "Your Honor" like I'm some peasant from the 1500s. So I have my ChatGPT lines memorized to about 90%, when the clock strikes 8:30am - and the prosecutor (I am assuming here) calls me up and asks me how I want to plea. I mouse out a "guilty - but I want to speak to the judge" and he's like they're just going to make you pay the fine anyways, and I started mumbling (y'all know how I do) about how I got my tag renewed and he's like You got your tagged renewed? Let me see, and I start YET AGAIN SHAKILY RUFFLING my two documents and he takes a quick glance and he's like I am going to give you a warning this time. :D :D BOY! My good luck has waned down over the last 6 years so this was literally a miracle. So I give him a little *insert concerned Ariana grande eyebrows here* "thank you" and I went on my merry way.

Guys, I am reminded DAILY - DAILY - that I am old now and today was no exception. As I am walking out of the building onto Marietta Square I think "today's my luck day, I better stop and get me a lottery ticket" 😾

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Atlanta - Snow!

Atlanta Friday, January 10, 2025

The corporate urge to start the blog greeting with HELLO TEAM -

photo from 2011 - courtesy of my facebook

Today, Atlanta had a ~ snow storm ~ I don't know what actually constitutes a storm so I'm going to go with snow drizzle. I have to admit I was a doubter. I didn't believe it for a second, but I woke up this morning, eager to open the blinds, and audibly gasped when I did: a fluffy blanket of snow covered the yard. I almost regret not taking photo, but nothing around me is picturesque, so we're not missing out. I clocked in and after a quick meeting, I brewed a cup of coffee and sat on the porch to take it all in. It was still before 9am, so I was able to sit in silence and hear the snow hit the ground. Ahh, so peaceful. As I was ready to go back in, some of the neighbors were going for walks, running with their dog, and playing in the snow. I think the best part of all this is just the joy the snow brought :-).

I had to get back to work, but watched the light snowfall throughout the morning. It was hard to focus on work when my Instagram was full of everyone capturing their 2025 snow memories. SHARE, SHARE EVERYTHING WITH ME. Apart from yesterday when I went out for drinks, I have gotten pretty good at being a homebody for the last couple weeks . . . but today will be PEAK homebody vibes.

First of all I took an everything shower earlier this week, iykyk. I found, yes I promise I forgot about it, espresso flavored vodka I got from Sara when we helped her move ( :-( ). God bless, Paco has a cocktail shaker so I chilled it, hopped in the shower - lathered in L'Occitane shower oil IFYKYK, skincare routine, moisturized and so now I am typing away but ready to start a cozzzzyyyy night in.

Lana's Norman Fucking Rockwell! album playing on volume 99, espresso vodka, per my last email

My on rotations - Mario Kart/ACNH, One Piece, A Court of Thorns and Roses 💀

Pine and Peppermint candle (was gifted it at work and I ran to my car in socks and sandals to get it out of my trunk which had 3 inches of snow)

Micro Fleece Henley Pajama Romper for Women - 3.5in inseam I got from Old Navy back in February 2024 for $3.88!! And I am wearing them for the first time today (can we put the temp down I'm hot 👹)

If my photos above look shitty it's because I HAVE WARM AND AMBIENT LIGHTING GOING ON.

And while I was grabbing ice to shake this vodka - I found a Jamaican beef patty for a late night snack. . . . . My night couldn't have gotten better.

I thought I may have written a post on the 2014 snowmaggedon - snowpocalypse or whatever you want to call it that we went through, but I think I might've gotten confused with my burning bridge post LOL. Well I went to Facebook bc I know I had a few snow day photos from 2011 and MY SHAYLA, I am tearing up I couldn't even look at them, my babies, they're so grown up. The first photo is also from that time and I love that all the kids were in our yard - haha. I wish there was a photo of me but I guess that was one day I didn't take a selfie. 💁

UGH, life is great!!

WAIT I FOUND ONE OF ME HAHA

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State of the Union: Internet and Anxiety?

Atlanta Thursday, April 13, 2017

There's been a streak of traffic incidents in the Metro Atlanta area lately. It began two weeks ago when a bridge on a major highway caught fire. The a fire broke out underneath the bridge, the flames engulfed that particular section and ultimately caused it to collapse. This incident sent Georgia into a state of emergency and wrecked havoc on the roads as I-85 was shut down at rush hour. The repairs will be paid by the state with federal assistance, though they are not sure how long it will take, most likely a few months. Memes were not spared, this was fine as thankfully no one was injured or killed.

It took time to get the details on what caused the incident. It was later revealed that the fire was caused by a man smocking crack underneath. There's an interesting opinion piece by George Chidi. He says that too much responsibility is being placed on the man who was smoking, on not enough on those that gave the OK to store flammable materials powerful enough to take down a bridge. He mentions that last year, a DOT (department of transportation) official went to jail for taking bribes to illegally store materials under DOT properties. He states, "I’ve got a problem with the state investigating itself, conveniently – instantly – finding someone powerless to arrest– someone giving them a way to pin the blame on outside of state government, before they end up in a federal hearing."

I wonder if this incident will spark more conversation and action on Atlanta's traffic and public transportation issues?

Three days ago, a Tanker flipped over on I-285 effectively spilling 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel onto the interstate blocking traffic on a busy morning. Although there was an attempt to collect the fuel most of it was lost to the environment.
Two days ago, a truck carrying baseball fan paraphernalia spilled onto I-75 also blocking two lanes and causing delays.
And we couldn't miss today, when a fire began under a railroad bridge not too far from the site of the bridge collapse two weeks ago.
edit (4/18): The fun never ends! Yesterday in the early hours of the morning, a truck drivers rig overturned and spilled toxic chemical waste on I-75, GA Tech classes were delayed and it took hours to clean. Later in the afternoon, I-20 was also shut down because of a gas line that burst upward. So two left lanes just buckled upward.

I am sure we are all just hyperaware of these traffic incidents because of the I-85 bridge collapse, and if I looked hard enough I could find road incidents by the bundles. Still, it makes you wonder why Atlanta can't catch a break. Who's doing brujeria on us?

(edit 4/18): funny memes from FB today

A quick catch up on the internet this week in one picture:

United Airlines: The video of Dr. David Dao, 69, of Kentucky, being bloodied as he was pulled off the flight in order to make room for four United employees has ignited conversation and outrage around the world.

Pepsi: In the 2-minute-39-second “short film,” Jenner throws off the chains of the modeling industry by taking off her wig, then leaving a photoshoot to join a protest. After sharing some knowing nods and #woke-ass fist bumps with her fellow protestors, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star manages to bring everyone together by … handing a cop a Pepsi.

Spicer: The White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, set off an intense backlash on Tuesday when he suggested that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria was guilty of acts worse than Hitler and asserted that Hitler had not used chemical weapons, ignoring the use of gas chambers at concentration camps during the Holocaust.

In conclusion, memes are great.

We are nearing the end of the semester and I am a walking ball of anxiety. I was reading "The Book of Joy" by HH the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. So far I have enjoyed the first few chapters. I have mentioned before that I am taking a class on East Asian politics, and I was meant to write an essay on any topic. I was going to write it on Duterte and the South China Sea, but after a class on Tibet and learning more about the Dalai Lama through my book, I decided to change my topic to Tibet and China relations.

So I went from joy and peace to cynicism and skepticism in one afternoon. This actually mirrors my life right now so that's great. Here's to ending the semester on a positive note. 🍻

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Dinnertime: Sushi and Cake 🍣🍰

Atlanta Friday, January 20, 2017

My close friend D, once my youth minister, came to visit after living in the West for the last year. We were all so excited to see each other. We decided, about a week before, to go for dinner and dessert on Thursday. Her go to restaurant to satisfy her sushi craving is Kuroshio (Smyrna/Kennesaw). I posted about Kuroshio about a year ago (you can read it here, omg scratch that, two years ago), and today I decided that it is my favorite restaurant. I don't think I can enjoy sushi anywhere else, at least not anywhere that is on the same levels as Kuroshio, only more expensive places can probably beat it. I am dying to have an Omakase experience, if anyone knows a location they've gone to before please let me know! (like I'd have the cash to go but you know. . .)

My sister was with me and we honestly got too daring and we decided to order both an appetizer and a sushi assortment. Our friend ordered a fried rice which we also took bites from. They have one of the most delicious fried rices!! Whether or not you like sushi, you should try their chicken fried rice.

The Squid salad, which I hadn't had before really surprised me. I was expecting it to be a little chewy and maybe lack flavor, but it was neither of those. If you're feeling a little adventurous, the January special is $14 and you get a 25% discount.

For our main dish, as if it were necessary, was The Mega Mover. It is a salmon based assortment, but you can also get it in tuna (The Earth Mover). It comes with miso soup (piping hot and oh so good) and ginger salad.

This one is $25 year round. It is one of our favorites, but it isn't always the most economic choice when you're just a less-than-part-time nanny lol. But we were treating ourselves, or that's what I tell myself.

For desert we needed CAKE! We were all stuffed. But, it's cake and we've heard of take out boxes. Where else to go than the Marietta Diner, who's huge display of cakes is absolutely mouth watering. I had a black forest slice and a cherry coke. 😋

This isn't even all as there is a second row behind these cakes, all different flavors/selections. There is also another display box with pies and cheesecakes. Can you tell how massive they are? (They also have a ton of smaller pastries like cookies and brownies)

peep the cannolis on the left

I was so excited to see the Kadaifi cake, but I thought to myself- that's not its name, or at least not the one I'm familiar with. I racked my brain until I remembered it is what I know as Kunafeh. But after some research I don't think it's the same thing, similar but Kadaifi is the Greek counter part to Kunafeh's Arab origins. Or is it the same thing? Wikipedia is not clear, someone let me know please!

Melissa 🐝