My apologies to Atlanta Georgia
I boldly stated that I am not a southern gal in my last post. I withdraw Atlanta Georgia from that generalization. I am deeply sorry to the people and state of Georgia, I liked it there.
The weather was certainly tolerable during my visit, mid-high eighties, humid, yes, but not too bad. To be honest it was refreshing to go outside and warm up. The hotels keep the air conditioning cranked, so I spent the majority of my time indoors at the conference shivering (even with a sweater and socks!).
The Georgian people are polite, friendly and helpful. I think I only met one cranky man the entire time I was there. (funny story that I will have to tell you all someday)
Atlanta is CLEAN! I was very impressed with how clean it is for a major Urban area. And kudos to the hotel that hosted a conference with over 4000 attendees plus their normal tourist load. They had the most immaculate public bathrooms I have ever seen. (it’s the little things that make me happy)
Atlanta also appears to be a safe and friendly city for families to visit. Coca-Cola Museum, Children’s Museum, Olympic Park, CNN and then there is the Atlanta Aquarium….
The highlight of my trip was attending a conference sponsored coffee & dessert reception at the Georgia Aquarium. http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/
It is the Largest Aquarium in the world! If you are into fish & aquatic life from around the world it is worth visiting the Georgia Aquarium.
Personally, if I ever had the opportunity to travel through Atlanta again I would take the lay-over and make sure I had a solid day to visit the fishes again.
My favorite part of my visit to the aquarium was this exhibit….
Journey with Giants
Walk through an acrylic tunnel or stand in front of a gigantic acrylic viewing window, and you will feel like a SCUBA diver in an endless blue sea, mesmerized by thousands of fish swimming overhead.
This exhibit was specially designed to house whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world. Schools of predatory trevally jacks, squadrons of small and large stingrays, enormous goliath grouper and hammerhead sharks all ply the waters of this captive ocean habitat containing more than six million gallons of saltwater. With 4,574 square feet of viewing windows, a 100-foot-long underwater tunnel, 185 tons of acrylic windows and the second largest viewing window in the world at 23 feet tall by 61 feet wide and 2 feet thick, visitors will have multiple opportunities to view all of these magnificent animals. No other aquarium in the world has ever attempted to manage the variety and size of fish in this major exhibit.
I could have sat in front of that giant tank all day with a book or my knitting and a venti from Starbucks.
I acquired some photography lessons from my visit to the aquarium. Particularly the fussiness of my camera’s ability to capture images through thick glass, and of reflection (note the red light that needs to be photoshopped out eventually)
Anyway, here are a few of my images from my visit…
Again check out http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/ There are a few videos on the site that will give you an idea of the scope of this amazing place!
Bonus Chick Flick Nite – Juno
Four Tissues (not a crier, a belly laughter)
Faced with an unplanned pregnancy, an offbeat young woman makes an unusual decision regarding her unborn child.
I can see both sides of the fence. This is a love it or hate it movie. After all the topic is teenage pregnancy. I really enjoyed this movie. Found the characters complex and entertaining, its a funny movie, but if you are sensitive it appears to really make light of the whole teen pregnancy issue.
I have read some pretty harsh “lay” reviews online and all I have to say to them is…… This is just a movie people! It is a comedy, NOT a bloody documentary (sorry, no pun intended).
It was worthy of all the nominations and awards won – too many to list but let’s just say that it was nominated at least once by every film festival it played in all over the world. The script was flawless and the acting was as well.
The awesome hip soundtrack is a bonus feature of watching this film. Note ladies the last song of the film, so sweet you will melt a little.
I highly recommend this film if…. 1 – you can handle the controversial subject & 2- you have a sense of humor that leans heavily toward the dark cynical side.
Although I feel that men can certainly tolerate, maybe even enjoy this film thanks to the sharp humor (my “serioso” sat in on the last 1/2 hour of the movie with me and said it didn’t suck); I think it is still mostly a chick flick that takes you through a range of emotions with a feel good ending.
Best chick flick line in the movie is spoken by Juno’s dad, here’s his advice about life partners:
In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That’s the kind of person that’s worth sticking with.
How true! Is sun shining out your ass?
Chick Flick – “Into the Wild”
Into the Wild
Directed & Screenplay by Sean Penn
Based on the book by Jon Krakauer
Staring Emile Hirsch
Soundtrack by Eddie Vedder (yummy)
Based on a true story. After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life.
Have you ever had thoughts of escaping your everyday life, your past and future, society and all the burdens that come with it, run away from the world, disappear completely? Wanted to be self sufficient and not rely on anyone, not anyone for your survival? Ever wanted to be free? To find your personal truth? To find beauty in every moment?
I believe that every one of us has had one of those moments, when we have wanted to completely escape our life. Whether it be work or school, a dysfunctional family, a bad marriage, loss, addiction, boredom, illness…. I believe that we have all planned our escape, the ideal, dreamed of where we would rather be. Inventing a new identity. Thought it through thoroughly, down to the last detail. Started to plan and research. I know I have. Those moments of planning and dreaming were what got me through those tough times.
But I never did have the guts or the discipline to follow through. Did you? Ever wonder where you would be today if you did? Any regrets?
This movie is about someone who followed through with his escape plans and lived a remarkable honorable life. It is philosophical, real, beautiful, thought provoking and yes even the obligatory chick flick “tragic”.
However this movie is not a Chick Flick, it crosses genders and ages. It is a must see. 5 stars, this movie transcends my tissue rating system.
Again, a book that I will have to put on my ever growing list of things to read.
Sob
It is a shame that Atonement did not win a Best Picture Oscar.
Atonement – 5 Tissues
“In 1935, 13-year-old fledgling writer Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) and her family live a life of wealth and privilege in their enormous mansion. On the warmest day of the year, the country estate takes on an unsettling hothouse atmosphere, stoking Brionys vivid imagination. Robbie Turner (Mr. McAvoy), the educated son of the familys housekeeper, carries a torch for Brionys headstrong older sister Cecilia (Ms. Knightley). Cecilia, he hopes, has comparable feelings; all it will take is one spark for this relationship to combust. When it does, Briony who has a crush on Robbie is compelled to interfere, going so far as accusing Robbie of a crime he did not commit. Cecilia and Robbie declare their love for each other, but he is arrested and with Briony bearing false witness, the course of three lives is changed forever. Briony continues to seek forgiveness for her childhood misdeed. Through a terrible and courageous act of imagination, she finds the path to her uncertain atonement, and to an understanding of the power of enduring love.”
The film is an adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel of the same title. (One to add to your reading list if you are not a movie person)
I write this with fresh tears in my eyes. I promise not to spoil a thing about this movie. Atonement is a must see. It is not for the weak or squimish, it is very graphic at moments and is quite tragic, but in the most beautiful way.
I want to say more, I want to have a dialogue about this film, I want to <<<bite lip>>>! But alas I made a promise. Please do make the time, soon, to see this film! I need someone intelligent to talk with about Atonement.
Whether you watch it or read it I recommend having a box of kleenex close at hand. A minimum of 5.
