Robin has a great idea, and you can read all about it just by clicking on the sassy little button below.

No self-respecting Bulldog could let such a bold proclamation go unanswered.

If only I could embed a YouTube clip of last year’s Egg Bowl into the sand.

That would be perfection.

Late this afternoon I settled into a chair on the balcony so that I could a) look at the water b) look at the water and c) look at the water.

I sort of enjoy looking at the water. You may have picked up on that.

Anyway, as I was preparing to do All The Looking, I noticed that there were some flags attached to a tent down below.

I mean, only in the South would someone BRING THEIR TEAM FLAGS ON VACATION and FLY THEM ON THE BEACH.

And then, as my eyes wandered down the shoreline, I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw what was only about fifty feet away from the Auburn tent:

We don’t mess around in the SEC, y’all. We jockey for position all year long.

Even on the sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

Which is why I’ll obviously be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning creating some sort of life-sized sand statue of Sylvester Croom.

The gauntlet has been thrown, my friends.

The gauntlet has been thrown.

So, you know, market pretty much rocked.

We had the best time. Laughed so much. And while I fully expected to hop back on the computer this morning and tell you about all the shopping I did, I have a startling confession to make, internets:

I did not buy one thing.

I was at a huge indoor merchandise market (wholesale, to boot) with thousands of merchants, millions of wares and more cute handbags than you could shake a stick at, and I did not buy a thing.

I think I’ve lost my shopping mojo, y’all.

Anyhoo, Janie had (and is still having) a great market, and I loved getting to talk to all the people who visited her booth. I have this odd memory tic where I pretty much remember the hometown of everyone I’ve met in my whole life ever (also: their middle names and phone numbers), so I had a great time making connections with complete strangers who wondered why the “blonde” woman was scrutinizing their nametags for hometowns and then WOULDN’T QUIT TALKING, ALREADY about so-and-so who used to live in that town back in 1994, maybe it was 1998, but I’M SURE YOU MUST HAVE MET.

I fear that my rambling is none too charming in real life. Not that it’s charming here, either, but at least here I can pretend.

For the first two days I was in Atlanta I could not resist the hot pink M&Ms that Janie bought for the booth, and I ate them until I was in the beginning stages of a sugar coma and had to stumble down the aisle and ask the girls at one of the food booths if I could please have a bit of one of their gourmet cheese balls, YOU SEE I NEED TO REGULATE MY BLOOD SUGAR.

In fact, I told Janie that I could have pretty much eaten one of those cheese balls like an apple, but unfortunately eating a whole ball of cheese would have left me with more digestive issues than I was willing to address during my stay in the ATL.

So yesterday – after two days of extreme M&M intensity – I held up my hand and turned my head and I rebuked those M&Ms in the strong name of Jesus, oh yes I did. I had to turn away, people. The M&Ms were becoming a bit of a stronghold. Our relationship with each other was no longer healthy.

Inasmuch as one can have a healthy relationship with chocolate, of course.

And here’s the unexpected kicker to my market tale, the bonus round that caught me completely by surprise: Saturday morning my Aunt C. (Mama’s sister) called to say that she, my uncle, and their two granddaughters (Alex’s 3rd cousins if I’m doing my genealogical math correctly) had booked a condo at the beach for the upcoming week, and they would love for Alex and me to join them, schedules permitting, of course.

Now here’s what you need to know about me in relation to the beach: even though I have skin the color of parchment paper, I will slather on some SPF 70 and pack me a hat in a New York minute if there’s a trip to the Gulf on the horizon. The beach – specifically, the white-sand-and-crystal-blue-water variety along the Florida panhandle – is my favorite place in the whole wide world forever and ever amen, and that is why I accepted my aunt’s invitation almost immediately except for the fact that I did, to my credit, check with my husband first.

You see, when it comes to the beach, I don’t want to check with anyone. I just want to hop in the car and drive.

After I’d gotten the go-ahead from the HOH, I left Atlanta yesterday morning and drove to sunny (well, sorta-ish sunny, if this morning is any indication) Florida. About an hour into my trip, the aforementioned HOH called to say that his brother’s condo – the place he and Alex have been staying since Thursday – was also open this week, and his brother said it was ours if we wanted to stay.

[Sidenote: between David’s brother Scott, Brother’s wife Janie, and Sister’s hubby B., I seriously hit the in-laws jackpot. You have no idea. I love them all TO PIECES.]

Anyway, David thought that that if he juggled a few things on his schedule, he could just work from Florida (thank you, Lord, for laptops and wireless internet connections) for a few days and we could have an impromptu family getaway.

SOLD, I said.

Aye, and enthusiastically.

So my aunt, uncle and cousins are about ten minutes down the road. Alex and I are heading their way for a morning-o-swimming in just a few minutes. My cousin Paige and her little boy – along with Paige’s brother B. – are driving down later today, and I anticipate a big week-o-family-fun on the horizon.

I am understandably excited.

And I’ll be back soon with pictures.

After I finish staring at the endless stretches of beautiful blue water, of course.

Priorities, you know.

Today I drove over to Atlanta so that I can help my sister-in-law Janie for a few days in her booth at gift market. I’ve heard of “market” all of my life but have never been, and so this afternoon when I walked into Building 3 for the first time and saw the sheer volume of merchandise in front of me, I seriously had to pause for a few seconds to try to take it all in.

My mind, it boggled.

Specifically, it boggled at the sight of so many plates and crosses and decorative boxes and Christmas decorations and tote bags and luggage and rugs and backpacks and jewelry and purses and crystal. SWEET MERCY there’s a lot of product.

Janie’s here to sell her JJs, and her booth is adorable. In fact, I have a picture of the booth to show you, mainly because I think you’ll appreciate all the pink and brown cuteness.

And that is where I’ll be for the next two days.

If any of you internets happen to be at market, come see us. Email me and I’ll tell you specifically where we are in Building 3. And if you come by to visit, just know that I’ll be the one who’s trying not to devour the cute pink and brown M&Ms that Janie bought for her customers.

Like me, she’s a fan of a color scheme. Even chocolate is no exception.

By the way, we had one of the best meals of my whole life tonight at a place called Il Localino. That’s a blog post in and of itself, mainly because I am a bit of a hillbilly when it comes to fine dining, but oh my word we had such a great time.

And if you’re worried about my fellas, don’t. They’re having a little father / son weekend at the beach with David’s brother’s family. When I talked to them a few minutes ago, they were basically the happiest two people alive what with all the sand and sunshine and surf and swimming. I’ll miss my boys, but it’s going to be such a fun trip for them.

It’s gonna be fun here in ATL, too. I’ll keep y’all posted.

Provided that I’m not too busy eating those M&Ms.

Have a great weekend, everybody!