Normally my breakfast consists of: juice, half decaf coffee, fruit, some whole wheat toast & jam [or oatmeal], sometimes a scrambled egg, ever-other-day an hour and a half in the hot Bikram yoga room and a gallon of fresh water.

PopsPlaceSign

Recently, while in Atlanta working on short-term design job, I was treated to a very high carbo-loaded breakfast. This traditional and I mean traditional southern breakfast was at Pop’s Place just south of the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Pop’s is known for it’s home cooking and urban myth has it, popular with drivers racing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Pops outside

Popsinside

Upon entering the tiny dining/kitchen/drive-thru restaurant we asked if this really was the home of Atlanta’s best homemade biscuits. The answer; a resounding “Yes”, followed by a nearby local’s recommendation of “biscuits and gravy”.

Pops Place Southern Breakfast

We ordered: the best homemade biscuits around with sausage gravy, eggs, sausage, country ham, grits, coffee and of course, a Coke.  Now, remember, I don’t normally eat meat, however I wanted to “taste” this. The off-white plates quickly arrived to our table. The grits were as light as fluffy tapioca pudding. The biscuits; those portions not soaked by gravy were equally fluffy and the eggs perfectly prepared.  How many calories in this breakfast? This IS a once in a lifetime breakfast for me.

I wasn’t able to finish the whole breakfast, but I did taste everything and enjoyed the constant parade of patrons coming thru the door and drive thru. We were treated with the very best southern hospitality during our entire breakfast, including the checkout.

Cashout at Pops Place

Look closely at those prices.  Our total bill $16.40. I might return, and only order a biscuit, eggs and juice…maybe some of those fluffy grits.

standing bow

Last Sunday, I spent 8 hours in a hot room [I mean really hot-like 105 degrees of hot] studying Bikram yoga postures with Diane Ducharme of West Roxbury, MA.  Diane was amazing!  Her energy is other worldly, matched only by her ability to move her body.

standing head to toeA

We all learned to move our bodies in new and unusual ways. Case in point, as Diane helps a student move thru a 360 degree forward bend.

standing head to toeB

By pulling on our heels, tightening up our quad muscles, we are able to pull ourselves into what amazingly feels good.  No really, trust me on this.  If you’ve never stretched like this, you should try it sometime. This bending motion stretches the legs, hamstrings, lower back and upper back….all while working out the biceps.

Which is good, considering that is what we came to do.  After the 6+ hour clinic, we did our usual 1.5 hour practice.  That last 1.5 hours flew by like nothing I have ever felt before.  Quite amazing!  Now, where is the Advil?