Atlanta, GA

Saturday, June 9th

Afternoon napping, major league baseball, porch beers, hangin’ with new and old friends, and late night K-Burger run.

Folks, that’s a darn god day!

After a rather late sleep in, Owen and I grabbed some quick lunch and did absolutely nothing. We watched golf, college baseball, and generally napped till Amy got home. It was everything that I thought it could be and more. What has made my visits to Owen and Amy’s house(s) so enjoyable over the years has been that there is no pressure for them to entertain me. To clarify I mean that the best part of the visit is just hanging out with them. Saturday in Atlanta was a perfect example.

After Owen and my afternoon siestas we met up for with a former colleague and friends’ of Owen from Hattiesburg Drew and Morgan. The five of us joined up with Charles and Angie, friends from the college days, for dinner at Frittis. This is one of the wood oven pizza places that had specialty pizzas with a European flair. The restaurant is located in an area of Atlanta called the Virginia Highlands. The pizzas were great. The company and conversation better. If anyone was wondering the place was certified by the VPNA or for those not skilled in the lingo, the Verace Pizza Napoletana Association.

After dinner we went the Braves game at Turner Field. The Brave beat the Cubbies 9 to 5, box score, in front of a sold out home crowd. (game recap).

Braves Cubs game obstructed by a Cubs hat

Andruw Jones makes a diving catch to save at least three runs

Harris slides under tag.

Amy, Angie, and Charles enjoy the game.

Charles and Owen pose for Pete's photo

After the game we went over to Charles and Angie house for a couple of porch beers. We retold old stories, updated new ones, and generally had a great time. Nothing beats catching up with old friends and getting to know new ones. I knew both Charles and Angie before they started dating and both are great people. Charles is finishing up a law clerkship in Jackson, MS and Angie is in her second year of law school after acting in some movies. She had some major, minor roles if that makes sense. Charles originally hails from Jackson, MS were a number of my college friends come from and many still live. If someone told me 18 years ago when I was a senior at Prep, my high school as if anyone who knows me has not heard me mention a little over a thousand times, that I would live in and have the bulk of my friends in the south I would not have believed them.

On the ride home a classic college tradition was relived. I am not sure who mentioned Krystal first but idea was met with thunderous and unanimous approval. For the uninitiated the K-Burger is a staple of the 1am to ? crowd for late night dining. What the K-burger lacks in nutrition (link) it more than makes up for in late night availability, comical stories of visits, cheapness, and taste. And yes those factors are in order of most to least important. The staples of my order are a 2 to 1 ratio of Cheese Krystals to the Kystal Chic. Some others prefer to chase the ever elusive Chili Cheese Pup who frequency of sightings in midtown Memphis are akin to the mythical Bigfoot and Loch Ness Monster. The exact number ordered varies on your BAC level, time of night, and store location (the former Death Krystal on North Parkway and Cleveland in Memphis). If you have never enjoyed the epicurean bliss of a late night K-Burger and its corollary next day “struggles” you simply have not lived.

The spoils of a late night Krystal Run