We Aren't Snooty, We're Just Clean...

DW & I were signed up for a 10K in Rome, GA, this weekend on the Berry College campus, which was breath-taking. And although I didn't end up running the race for reasons that would be too tedious to explain on here, I did go to support Dusty and pick up my t-shirt so I can be a total and complete poser...but one with a cute t-shirt none-the-less.

Ford Dining Hall

In typical Walker-style, we waited until the last minute to book our hotel, so we had to figure out our sleeping arrangements next. As we were driving along, passing potential locations, we kept saying, "Nope, looks filthy!" or "No way, that looks dangerous!" Riiight as the thought occured to me, DW said, "Are we just snooty?!" I thought for a moment, and then said with conviction, "We aren't snooty, we're just clean." He pauses, and I laugh, knowing what he's thinking and sure enough, he says: "Is that what snooty people say to make themselves feel better?" I'm not saying it's true, I'm not saying it isn't.

Shortly after, I gunned the engine to get DW's attention since he was pre-occupied with checking email on his computer. Without missing a beat - or looking up - he said, "Careful, Bud, you might break one of their legs." "Huh?" I say, and look around for whose leg I could have broken. "Whose legs?" I repeat, still confused, and then laugh when he says in a redneck voice, "One of those horses under my hood..." Um, yeah, our V6 engine is just full of horsepower!

We wanted to stay at the Claremont house but cheap-ies that we are, we are saving that for next year. Instead, we stayed at another run of the mill hotel and I had panic attacks about when the last time the comforter was cleaned. That said, I lived and no limbs have fallen off yet and Dave Ramsey would be proud. We are this close! :-)

After registering for the race and figuring out hotel details, DW and I got a recommendation from his contact at Berry College about where we should eat in Rome. We chose Bella Roma, a local Italian place that was given rave reviews. It didn't look like much on the outside, but it was a classic case of looks being deceiving.
A small glass of red wine (yes, just one, Mom!) served with our fresh bread dipped in garlic clove shavings drowned in olive oil was a small bit of heaven. We followed that by a Spankopita appetizer (phyllo dough wrapped around spinach, and covered in fresh mozzarella crumbles) made on-the-spot when DW, who couldn't stop himself, ordered it...and then I couldn't stop myself from eating it. His excuse? "Carb loading." My excuse? This girl just likes to eat.

Next, they brought out a small pizza covered in fresh ingredients and DW and I both died and went to heaven on the first bite!!! We both wanted to eat and eat and eat until we died.

I couldn't get Dusty to stop long enough to take a picture at first...
But then he conceded a little later when his belly was full...

And, may I point out, we got all of the above for under $35...crazy, right? If you find yourself in Rome, it's a must-do.

After dinner, we chose to go to the incredibly romantic local mall (ha!) so I could get makeup. I've been out for a few weeks and I'm starting to look like something out of night of the living dead (ok, not that bad). As I got out of the car, a middle aged woman and her mother were walking up near our car, and DW made a very real tooting sound and exclaimed, "Baaabe!" as if it surprised him. The woman and her mother just stared and I turned three shades of red while DW laughed at his obnoxious little prank. "Oh, it hurts..." he said when he finally came up for air, his eyes full of laughter-tears. "Good." I say, but I melt a little when he wraps his arm around me and says, "Kiss me!"...his way of begging for forgiveness.

Inside the mall, I found out the rumor is indeed true...my brand of makeup that I've been wearing since I was 16 years old has been discontinued. Goodbye, Prescriptives. I'll miss you. I hit the gumball machine hard to drown my sorrows...and to cover our garlic breath from our fabulous dinner.

We drove past the movie theater, considered it, and then decided that we were tired and DW needed to get a good night's sleep before he ran...and I just wanted to sleep. When we got to the hotel, I was making myself some hot tea so DW headed to our room and when I got there, I found this stuck in the card reader on the door:

The next morning, we got up early and DW and I headed back to Berry College so he could run. He ended up getting 7th in his age category, set a PR, and came in Top 30 overall so he was really proud of himself and I was really proud of him, too.

Quite honestly, it was just the weekend we needed...something different, something fun, and lots of laughs.

Next weekend, the zoo with Chris, Shanna, and Elizabeth Reese...