I left my heart in Charleston...

For those of you who think of the South as a place full of confederate flag-waving, pick-up truck driving, park on the lawn, PBR swilling rednecks - ya'll are so wrong. That's only in some places in the South - but definitely not quaint, charming, and quintessentially Southern aristocratic Charleston, South Carolina. Not that I had the time during my busy schedule to wander and shop and eat and browse and stroll and just take in all that the city has to offer...no I was just barely able to snap these pics as I was rushing off to all of my appointments.








And finally just more proof that there are so many impediments to my attempts at keeping my blog updated. Moses likes to be wherever I am in the house, and demands my attention with the cuteness that oozes from him. Poor kitty fell off of my monitor right after I snapped this picture.

No Place like Home

So recently I moved into a cute new place. It did not used to be a cute place, in fact at one point it was really ghetto. There is still what appears to be a bullet hole in the front window to attest to that fact. And also maybe some of the neighbors are really scary – but the house itself is a sanctuary inside and it is conveniently located right downtown AND I can still cycle to work. It’s a cute little house with very many cute things – including stuff that I spent waaay too much money on at Pier 1, and also some art and various other items acquired from local artisans at the Farmer’s market (my second home). Now that I’m all settled in – and the bulbs are planted! – there’s nowhere I’d rather be than home. My cats running amok, my boyfriend sitting on the couch with a Newsweek or his laptop, fantastic experimental dishes cooking in the oven, and WOW – a washer and dryer IN THE HOUSE! No more laundry queue for me, suckas!

But no matter how much I’d die to be home, I always find myself forced to be elsewhere. Yes, it’s my job and that’s how I afford all the crap I buy – but it still sucks. Instead of relaxing at home, I find myself in airports and rental car lines, and hotel rooms that are always too cold and distastefully decorated. Always alone. Boo hoo, wha wha…

And so, I try to document my biz travels in pictures – taken at times while driving, sometimes at maybe unsafe speeds – but usually only in traffic jams.



Hi! It's me again! That girl who is taking a picture of this heavy traffic jam while the rest of the people are probably really annoyed and just want to get home.



Goodbye Atlanta. Have a nice day! See you next time.

Meeeeooooow...grrrrrr...hissssss!!!


Recently my ‘other’ cat, Xi, finally moved in with me in the new place. Xi has had to stay with my parents for quite a while now because her mental condition prevents her from being able to co-exist with humans in small spaces. Now that there is more room, a yard, and a basement – she is back. Sigh! It has been somewhat of a difficult adjustment for Moses, and also Pete’s dog. And also me. Xi is of a very rare breed – half feline, half gremlin. She looks and acts very cute and affectionate – until you attempt to return the seeming affection by like, trying to touch her. At that point, she begins to growl and tries to get away by slowly beginning to dismember you. She is also a rather large animal. I recently found a cute little book that was actually written about her, and has her portrait on the cover. It’s difficult sometimes living with a satanic, over-eating cat who also sometimes meows endlessly for no apparent reason. I think she is one of those sad cases in which trauma was experienced as a kitten. It’s either that – or she would probably be diagnosed with some sort of severe socio-phsychopathic disorder stemming from a chemical imbalance. I do not know – but she is still very cute!


Xi's autobiography.


Shortly after this picture was taken, Xi annihilated that cute little pumpkin. There are still shreds of it on the wall, but I was able to salvage some of the seeds and bake them.

On the road again…

On a recent business trip to South Carolina, I maybe sort of took a few hours before heading back to the airport to hang out in lovely downtown Greenville. I am most certainly glad I did! I strolled up and down historic main street, stopped off at a couple (ok 5) local coffee shops, a decadent little french bakery, a little bath/body type shop wherein the lady who owned the place was super nice and very southern – and also a very impressive little art gallery. Phew!
It was a great way to finish off a long, stressful trip. Then all I had to do was re-situate the contents of my suitcase to make room for the new items I'd acquired, then get on a plane and go home. Mmmmm!
I was also quite pleasantly surprised to find that there are natural foods grocery stores in the south! I stayed at a hotel very near the Whole Foods market. I got to know that particular store very well. They even sell Wines of the South there!



Look how cute Greenville is!







I was so sad to find this closed Mom & Pop store on main street. They were open for 35 years! You suck, Walmart!



But some chains are not as evil as others. Love you Whole Foods! Despite the frightening "Buy your right-wing Christian paraphernalia here" store next door.