Bits & Pieces

My morning commute takes me down off the mountain {only one lane when you’re heading down} and around the perimeter of downtown Chattanooga. The route takes me right past a few of the most crowded exits due to downtown commuters and therefore the average speed around there is no more than 45 mph.

Trust me, you needed that background info.

So this morning, I’m sitting in bumper to bumper traffic in which I can go no faster than 10 mph. I glance in my rearview mirror as traffic starts to pick up and notice a pickup truck sitting on my tail. Now I’m all about a well timed bumper ride, particularly when someone is sitting in the left lane while everyone passes them on the right {Hello, South Carolina! I’m talking to you!}. But when I am traveling with the flow of morning traffic and smoothly passing everyone in the right lane, there is no need to sit on my tail.

I tapped my brakes. No good, he was still there. He pulls out into the right lane in an attempt to pass me {and I swear I did not speed up to block him} but is unable to because did I mention the slow moving traffic on the right? So, back on my bumper he goes. At this point, I more than tap my brakes, look in my rearview and annunciate as clearly as I can, “Back! Off!”

He does.

For about a minute.

And back on my bumper we go. He tries one more time to pass me on the right, again, to no avail. The traffic clears up, another lane is added and I watch as he veers all the way to the right. All of a sudden I hear him honking his horn and I look back, thinking the idiot might be honking at me.

No, it appears that he veered off to the right trying to cut off another pickup truck in order to get to an exit. That truck would not let my bumper lovin’ friend in {rightfully so} and he was pissed. I watched as he pulled beside the innocent, safely driving truck and began honking his horn, shaking his fist and yelling indecipherable things {of which I’m sure there were more than a few colorful words}. My jaw was on the floor as he did this for half a mile.

Clearly, someone did not have their morning coffee.

Also, wouldn’t a simple bird have sufficed?

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There is a darling little four year old girl in our neighborhood who takes a daily afternoon walk with her dad. Apparently she is very threatening because my empty headed dog barks furiously at them every time they pass our house. About a week ago I was walking Knox and passed them on their walk. I introduced her to Knox and let her pet him. She looooooved him.

Today, they were passing our house when Knox and I were headed out for a walk. She made a beeline for her new friend crying out, “Ohhhh, such a cute puppy dog!” {Lick, lick, lick on her hand} “Ohhh, he loves me! Such a cute puppy. I love you too puppy!” {She puts her hand out for Knox to lick it again} “He’s giving me kisses! Daddy, he loves me! I love him.”

This repeated at least three more times before her dad was able to pry her away. I don’t think a more delightful four year old girl has ever existed.

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Amy Beth and I went to see “Julie and Julia” on Saturday night.

If Meryl Streep is not nominated for an Oscar, I will be seriously disappointed. Perfection.

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The Lifestyle Change is continuing in good form {if you’re just tuning in, you can read about the initial change here and the first update here}. Two and half months later, I’m down twenty pounds. I’m sleeping soundly, exercising at least four times a week {I ran my first 5k distance in over a year this week!} and feeling stronger than I have in a long time. I haven’t starved myself, I’ve eaten pasta in moderation and I am now eating fruit as a dessert.

Y’all, that last one? Nothing short of a miracle.